General Overseer Randall E. Howard shares leadership lessons that be learned by studying the life of the Apostle Paul in the lead editorial, "Leaders Like Paul." "Paul pointed to Christ as his model, who humbled himself and surrendered to mistreatment and the suffering of the cross, so that God’s will may be done."
Leadership is in vogue today. There are few topics more popular in secular business circles or in ministry circles than reading a new book or article on leadership. They are everywhere. Nearly everyone has heard of John Maxwell, one of my favorite speakers and writers on leadership, and most have read his books. I first met him personally when he came to an evangelism conference for pastors in the Church of God of Prophecy in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1986. Leadership development was the rising star then, and it is still riding the wave of popular demand today.
The second letter that Paul wrote to the Corinthians is a wonderful, personal letter about leadership in ministry. Paul’s words are quite different from the concepts often delivered in today’s leadership material. I am not saying that today’s precepts are off target, but I do believe we could all benefit from hearing the heart and passion of Paul as he wrestles with real pastoral and ministry leadership issues. Paul touches on familiar themes in 2 Corinthians.
Ministry under Pressure
Paul writes transparently about the afflictions and tensions that surround him and his ministry to the Corinthians. What pastor would not identify with these concepts in his personal ministry experience? Paul shares forthrightly that he has experienced suffering due to his life devoted to the call of God and the Gospel. At one point he gives a catalogue list (chapter 11) of difficult experiences that would surpass almost any leader in ministry: three times beaten with rods, once stoned and left for dead, etc. Also, through the letter, we sense the tension that has built up between the apostle and his spiritual children in Corinth. Paul even tells of one affliction given to him by God after his marvelous heavenly vision.
Through all of this, Paul returns to the timeless truth which God speaks to him in chapter 12 and verse nine, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Those words have brought encouragement to multitudes through the centuries, especially to ministry leaders experiencing affliction while doing the work of ministry. In the fire of any trial, we have this assurance that God’s grace is sufficient.
Purpose for Affliction
Paul knows that God has a purpose for all that he encounters. With God there is nothing lost due to coincidence or accident. Therefore, Paul can see the purpose in the sufferings he mentions in chapter one. He says in verse nine, “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God that raises from the dead.”
Paul recognizes that suffering always pushes us back to a stance of complete trust in God and not ourselves, and he recognizes this is God’s great purpose in allowing afflictions. This is a key theme in Paul’s letter here. It is articulated excellently in chapter three, verses four and five, “And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.” As ministers we know that the work of ministry can only be accomplished through God’s presence working in us.
Treasure in Clay Pots
Paul uses this illustration to highlight the power and beauty of suffering for the glory of God. In chapter four, he writes, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us" (v. 7). He goes on with the powerful assurances, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed" (v. 8).
Recent visitors were telling the Corinthians that an apostle of Christ ought to be glorious and triumphant. They were even so bold as to say that Paul, with all of his suffering, did not portray the glorious calling that an apostle should. No doubt, pastors feel this way at times. But in response to this, Paul pointed to Christ as his model, who humbled himself and surrendered to mistreatment and the suffering of the cross, so that God’s will may be done. Pastors, as we glean all the leadership skills possible today, perhaps we can balance it all with the “suffering servant” perspective of Paul in 2 Corinthians.
—Randall E. Howard, General Overseer
