Paul's Principle-centered Leadership

Steven Covey made a list of the principles of effective leadership in his book, PRINCIPLE-CENTERED LEADERSHIP. These principles are very simple and easily recognized in all walks of life and in many areas within an individual life. We have the opportunity to be leaders at any moment or occasion and there are certain attributes that bring this out in our lives. As I worked the first and second chapter of I Thessalonians, I was amazed how great the apostle Paul was and how he truly exuded those admirable qualities of effective leadership.

Leaders are constantly learning. The more they learn, the more they realize how much more there is to learn, This is usually self-initiated and self-fueling. Leaders are also service-orientated. They are mission-orientated. This can be readily seen in some teachers. Successful teachers are often mission-orientated rather than career-focused. I’ve seen the same things in housewives, sales people, paramedics, doctors, in great ministers and actually any walk of life. Successful people are motivated by something greater than themselves.

13For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Leaders radiate purposeful positive energy and they attract other people. They believe in others’ abilities. Poor leaders think that they are the linchpin for everything to happen and then miss the beauty of the synergy in working with another heart. Leaders love others’ strengths and they strive and love to complement others weaknesses. They focus in on others longsuits, interests and concerns rather than magnifying a position. This is so evident in I Thessalonians 1: 3,4 7-8, II Thessalonians 2:7-8:

3Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
4Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
7So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
8For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

7But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
8So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.


Good leaders lead balanced lives. They are not extremists. They do not over schedule, they are flexible, they can handle both praise and blame well. They were not manipulative.
In I Thessalonians 2:10 and II Thessalonians 2:3-6

10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

3For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
4But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
5For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
6Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

Leaders are adventuresome. New people are exciting to them and people to learn from. They ask questions and love to listen and recognize what others are doing.
I Thessalonians1:9,10:

9For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
10And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Finally, leaders are aware of their own need for self-renewal, in their physical, mental and spiritual life. They take time to exercise each of these areas. All of the above is not available unless it dwells richly in the leader. We never arrive and we dare not think that we can skimp or cut corners on our own growth.

I Thessalonians 2:2
2But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

Paul was under a great deal of mental, spiritual and physical pressure because of the unbelieving Judeans that followed him around. He was able to stand and be bold because of what he lived and practiced. The love of God that was shed abroad in his heart was kinetic because of how he continued to go to God.