Titus 2-- Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way

I don't know who first said it, but I like the saying: "If you think you are leading and you look back and no one is following, then you are just taking a walk." Leaders need to lead! God-ordained leaders have a God-given authority and they need to exercise that with boldness, especially when it comes to teaching the truth and correcting those who fall into sin. Titus 2 is about leadership. The chapter begins and ends with "speak these things..." (vv1,15). There are certain things that God expects leaders to speak into the lives of those they are supposed to be leading. Those things concern how the person is to appropriately live for their particular life stage. Paul, in challenging Titus to lead, passes on instructions for older men (v2), older women (v3), younger women (vv4-5), younger men (vv6-8), employees (vv9-10) and everyone (vv11-14). It is important to note that as people move through different life stages they have different challenges. There are different temptations that come at various ages. There are also different kinds of opportunities. Good leaders do not take a cookie-cutter approach to leadership. They note where their followers are at in terms of their life stage, spiritual development, giftedness, etc. They then speak into those lives with exhortations and, at times, rebukes (v15) that are tailored to the follower's situation. So, if you are in leadership, pause today and take a look behind you. Are people really following you or are you just taking a walk? If it is the latter, then maybe the problem is you are not following the leadership principles outlined in Titus 2.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.