Issue #100, February 25, 2013
After calling leaders to be blameless and to honor marriage commitments, Paul adds to his quality assurance list; the leader must be “temperate” (1 Timothy 3:2). My first response is “What?” Temperate is not a word I use often! Other translations use “vigilant” and “sober-minded.” The main idea is the ability to think clearly, especially in contrast to having one’s mind clouded by the influence of wine*. So how can we lead with clear thinking as temperate or sober-minded servant leaders?
Sober-minded leadership requires clarity.
Persons who drink alcohol and drive may be charged with “driving under the influence.” Their mind is not clear enough to make good, quick decisions. Paul would say that servant leaders should avoid “leading under the influence.” They should keep their minds clear of things which would distract them from their mission. This requires discipline and persistent exercise. Servant leaders discipline their minds to focus on their calling. They are careful about the mental diet they consume. We live in an information age with all sorts of information readily available to us. Effective leaders carefully monitor what they see, hear and read. They focus on things which are good and right and avoid mental “alcohol.” (See Phil. 4:8) Servant leaders also recognize the need to keep their minds strong and find ways to exercise their mind. They keep their minds strong by discussing thoughts and ideas with others, not simply comments about the weather and sports. They read and find time to reflect on what they are learning. They persistently seek to keep their minds clear.
Sober-minded leadership requires perspective.
The idea behind the role of an overseer to which Paul refers is one who “sees over.” Leaders see things that others do not see. They look behind to learn from the past. They look around to observe current events; they look ahead to anticipate future challenges. Like a person who looks out of the window of an airplane and is able to see in all directions they have a higher perspective. For some, this perspective comes naturally; other leaders must work hard to develop perspective. They find mentors who can help them see beyond their current realities and discipline themselves to look ahead, behind and around.
Sober-minded leadership requires wisdom.
Leaders who are thinking clearly and with temperance are able not only to focus and see the larger picture; but also to understand what should be done as a result. Wisdom is the ability to know what should be done and is strengthened with sober-minded thinking. All leaders are action oriented and often quickly identify solutions. But servant leaders think soberly about the situation and ask God for the wisdom needed before moving. They balance decisiveness with wisdom.
In scripture, we learn of a group of men who demonstrate this quality, the men of Issachar. They are mentioned among the fighting men of David as, “Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do– 200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command” (1Chronicles 12:32) This group of men had the ability to see what was going on around them, correctly interpret the meaning of these events, and know how to act on this information. Around them were many others who had battle skills, courage and experience. But these men possessed the extra quality of clear thinking. They were sober-minded leaders and call us to do the same.
For further reflection and discussion:
- What am I doing to keep my mind focused and strong? What do I typically discuss with others, ideas or events? What good books have I read that stimulate my thinking?
- How can I develop a larger perspective in my leadership? Is there someone I can talk with who will help me see things I am not seeing? Have I taken time to reflect and look at the bigger picture or am I focused only on the daily tasks?
- Would my colleagues describe my leadership as wise? Why or why not? Do I naturally tend to move too quickly or too slowly? How can I learn wisdom in my leadership?
*Since the element of drunkenness is mentioned later in Paul’s list, we’ll focus our attention in this issue on the need for servant leaders to be sober-minded.