Follow The Leader

Week 10 Scripture: Galatians 4:8-20

            Paul pleads with the church at Galatia to not reject him or his message (Gal 4:8-11) in favor of following his opponents and their “gospel.” In the midst of this, Paul asks them to remember their devotion to him—that they were even willing to “rip out your own eyes and give them to me”—and how they treated him “as though” he were “Christ” (Gal 4:14). In his plea, Paul requests that the Galatians, “Become as I am” (Gal 4:12). Paul calls them to imitate himself. It is curious that Paul does not just say, “Become like Christ…” However, if we were to go back to Galatians 1:1 we see that Paul is the “Apostle (sent) by God the Father and Jesus Christ.” Paul is a representative of God and Jesus, and his appeal to “Become as I am” reflects his own imitation of Jesus. For example, Paul can say, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor 11:1). Paul’s injunction assumes Christ is the one to be imitated.

            In our verses this week, a number of paths could be discussed, but I want to draw our conclusions from Paul’s leadership. Leadership, as usually understood, is not merely positions of authority—church or secular positions. In fact, Jesus was a leader yet he had little “authority” in the eyes of the world. Jesus’ family and closest friends rejected him as a “leader” (Mt 13:57; Mk 6:1-6; Jn 6:67-71). A leader is one who has influence over others in some capacity. Each of us influence in one-way or another. Influence can be good or bad. For example, think back to the time when a friend was talking poorly about another person—wasn’t it easy to jump in and join the bashing? This person had influence over you. Or have you ever been in a study group with an overachiever? When somebody else works hard, it pushes you to be better and perform higher. This person has influenced you. Others certainly carry more influence than others, but nevertheless we all have it! We lead even if we choose not to lead. Therefore, our actions, what we do and say, contain influence and leadership. Evaluating how we live our lives is dire to “becoming” like Paul (and Christ).

Questions To Ponder:

1.     Do you see yourself as being an influencer/leader? Explain.

2.     Would you change how you act or speak if you realized you were an influencer/leader? Why?

3.     What areas of your daily life do you get to lead and be an example? (i.e. Work, School, etc.). 

4.   What would you change about your influence/leadership if you could? Explain