Peter 4-5: Practical Leadership

Before I continue my thoughts on 1 Peter, it is important to remember what type of person Peter was.  He was the "Do-er" of the group.  When Christ was walking on the water to the boat, what disciple left the boat to meet him?......Peter.  When the Romans came to take Jesus away to be tried, who cut off the servant of the priests ear?......Peter.  When Christ was ascending into heaven, who did he leave in charge of starting the church?.....Peter.

When something needed to get done, Peter was a good person to call upon.  At times it got him in trouble, but Christ always appreciated his passion, loyalty, and attitude.  So as I read the books that Peter wrote, I think of it through the mind of a "do-er"  It is easy to see this through his writing, because everything is made very clear on how to "do" Christianity.

In Chapter 4:1-6 Peter makes a great point that all Christian leaders need to understand and embrace.  If you are a follower of Christ, you have committed to not live the rest of your life for earthly desires.  You should not be motivated in the same manner that pagans are.  Be prepared to be ridiculed for not taking part in some of the activities that they do.  Remember, when all is said and done, EVERYONE will have to give an account for their actions to God.

In verses 7-10 we get a good dose of practical leadership advice:

• "Be clear-minded and self-controlled so that you can pray." - This breaks down into 3 sub-points.  First, make sure that you are thinking clearly.  If you are unsure, reach out to a trusted mentor or friend to get their take on how you are reacting to a situation.  Second, DON'T REACT!  Self-control is one of the hardest things to master.  However, the consequences of losing your control can be catastrophic.  Third, Pray.  Yep, that means right in the middle of your day.....all the time....big decisions or small.  The crazy thing that you might find, is that the more you pray, the less likely you are to lose your mind or your self-control....
• "Love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."  I think that Peter is speaking from experience with this piece of advice.  As leaders, if we love people, we will be able to see to good in what they are trying to accomplish, and not necessarily judge them by the means in which they are trying to accomplish it.  Thinking back to the beginning of the chapter, when I am faced with God's judgment, I would be thrilled if I could respond to him that no matter what, I loved people.
• "Offer Hospitality to one another without grumbling"- As your leadership expands, that does not exclude you from being hospitable.  By keeping this piece of advice in mind, you will be amazed at how hard it is to let your ego take over.  When was the last time you went out of your way to make someone feel comfortable around you?  What do you do in your leadership to foster a genuine feeling of hospitality?
• "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's Grace in it's various forms." -  He DID NOT SAY "use the gifts God gave you to make as much money as you can and become as powerful as the pagans around you will allow you to become."  Any leader has found a way to harness the gifts that God provided in a manner to get to the position that they are in.  Now that you find yourself in that position, how are you going to continue to use those gifts for the benefit of others?

The final point that Peter makes in Chapter 3 is an important one.  Often times people, in the workplace, are ashamed or afraid to admit that they lead a life that is committed to Christ.  He makes the point that murderers and thieves and meddlers should be ashamed, but believers should never be ashamed for being associated with the name of God.  I ask myself daily, "Who are you trying to impress?"  and more often than not, I am disappointed in my own answer....

There is one major point that Peter makes in Chapter 5 that I think has amazing power and impact.  He speaks to both Elders and young men and gives them distinct and important roles:

• Elders - "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers - not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples..."  He is challenging the more experienced to be Mentors, counselors, examples.....Who are you currently mentoring? How are you helping those people that you see around you that have a "spark"?  How are you helping create leaders that you would be proud to see rise to the top?
• Young Men - "....be submissive to those who are older.  All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.  Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand that he may lift you up in due time."  There is nothing in this passage that says you shouldn't drive hard, or have goals you want to reach in a short time.  It also doesn't say that you have to be older before you can be a leader, but it does say that being humble, and showing respect to those with more experience is an expectation that God has of you.

So which group do you place yourself in?  I hate to break it to you, but unless you are the oldest person you know.....you are in both.  Keep that in mind as you interact with those around you on a daily basis.  I find myself totally happy when I can act like an "Elder", but it doesn't give me a hall pass to discount the experience and insight of those older than me....

Finally, Peter implores everyone to stay alert, because the devil is always trying to find ways to trip us up. And the business environment is probably the battle ground that he finds the easiest to manipulate to his will.  It contains all of the most effective levers: power, money, greed, pride.  So remember to surround yourself with a support group of believers...yes, even at work, who can offer correction when they see you stray from the path.

So many parts of scripture can be confusing, or vague, when it comes to understanding how to apply them to everyday life in the 21st century.  The book of 1 Peter does not happen to be one of them.  I have often thought that Peter would be the Disciple that I would most like to hang out with.  He tells it like it is, and gives us simple instructions to insure success.....The hard part, as always, is in the execution....