Leaders and Scrutiny

Scripture Passage that Caught my attention today: 2 Corinthians 13:5-10 Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test! 6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed. 7 But we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. This is what we pray for, that you may become perfect. 10 So I write these things while I am away from you, so that when I come, I may not have to be severe in using the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

Observation: Paul has a deep and abiding desire that the Corinthians and others in the area may pass the test of living in faith, even though there is contention between he and them.

Application: This is a very interesting passage…and a rather deep one at that. The relationship between Paul and the Corinthians is not the best. Clearly they are or have been acting in ways that Paul finds unbecoming of the people of God. And although he mentions that he himself hopes that he and his companions may appear to have met the test, his real desire is for the Corinthians to start acting in ways that reflect the presence of Christ within. The authority the Lord has given to Paul over them, which can be rather severe if need be, is for the purpose of building them up.

One challenge of leadership is that the fact that, like all other human beings, we are all simultaneously saint and sinner. Put another way, if you want to find the good in us, you can. And if you want to find the bad in us, you can. It’s all there…and everything in between.

Usually this is just an accepted part of life and is no big deal or object of focus. But when the necessity does come for God-given authority to in some way be exercised, things can get more dicey. In those times leaders can feel the gaze of more and more scrutiny.

Paul, sometimes successfully, sometimes not so much, tries to let that scrutiny roll off his back while continuing to focus on the issues at hand and the over-arching purpose for which he was called. It probably wasn’t easy. Never has been. Never will be. But as I mentioned in yesterday’s devotion, easy or not, Paul’s is still the lasting word and example that has endured down through the ages. From him all leaders can take note.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the examples in Scripture of faithful witnesses to your grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(readings today included: 1 Samuel 14, 2 Chronicles 4, and 2 Corinthians 13)