How can we discern and support Godly leadership in our churches today? A Moment on Mount Gerizim—Setting the Scene “ ‘Listen to me, O men of Shechem, and may God listen to you.’ ” (Judges 9:7) Jotham steps onto a natural pulpit, calling an entire city to tune their ears not merely to him but to the Lord. His brief introduction gives us three immediate clues about recognizing and encouraging godly leadership today: • Leadership must willingly stand where truth can be heard—even when the crowd below is hostile. • Leadership speaks for God, not for self-promotion. • Leadership invites mutual accountability: “May God listen to you” signals that God weighs every response. Lessons from the Trees—Jotham’s Parable in Brief (See Judges 9:8-15.) Jotham’s story of the olive, fig, vine, and bramble highlights four qualities that remain essential: 1. Fruitfulness—The olive, fig, and vine already bless others; real leaders are already serving faithfully (cf. Matthew 7:17-20). 2. Humility—Each fruitful tree resists the lure of power for its own sake (cf. Mark 10:42-45). 3. Self-sacrifice—The best leaders understand that taking a throne can mean leaving fruitful labor; they weigh that cost. 4. Danger of the unqualified—The bramble offers shade it cannot give and ends by threatening fire; leadership without substance always harms (cf. 3 John 9-10). New-Testament Echoes—God’s Checklist for Church Leaders These Old-Testament images lay the groundwork for traits later spelled out with Spirit-given clarity: • 1 Timothy 3:1-7—Above reproach, faithful at home, temperate, gentle. • Titus 1:5-9—Hospitality, sound doctrine, self-control. • 1 Peter 5:2-3—Shepherd the flock “not lording it over those entrusted” but “being examples.” • Hebrews 13:7—Lives worth imitating. When these passages are combined with Jotham’s cautionary tale, the profile of a godly leader grows unmistakable. Discerning Godly Leaders in Our Churches Practical steps for the whole congregation: • Watch for proven fruit, not flash. Who quietly produces “oil,” “figs,” or “wine” that nourishes the body? (Galatians 5:22-23) • Confirm biblical qualifications, not personal preferences. Match resumes to 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. • Pay attention to motive. Does the candidate desire prominence or service? (Philippians 2:3-4) • Listen for the bramble’s boast. Empty promises, flattery, or manipulation signal danger (Romans 16:17-18). • Seek unity in discernment. As Jotham addressed the whole city, so a church discerns together under Scripture (Acts 6:5). Supporting the Leaders God Gives Once the Lord raises up qualified shepherds, our responsibility shifts from testing to strengthening: • Pray consistently for wisdom, courage, and protection (Ephesians 6:18-20). • Honor them appropriately—“esteem them very highly in love because of their work” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). • Follow their biblical guidance (Hebrews 13:17). Obedience to Christ-honoring leadership lightens their load. • Guard them from bramble-fires: discourage gossip, quell factionalism, and uphold truth (James 3:6). • Share in the work—gifted members stepping up prevent burnout and multiply ministry (Ephesians 4:16). Living It Out—A Church That Reflects Mount Gerizim When congregations listen to the Word the way Shechem should have listened to Jotham, three blessings emerge: 1. Clear, courageous voices stand on figurative “mountains” pointing us to God. 2. Fruitful leaders are freed to keep producing the oil, figs, and wine of spiritual health. 3. The bramble finds no soil; instead of destructive fire, the church displays Christ’s radiant light (Matthew 5:16). By hearing and heeding the principles embedded in Judges 9:7, we cultivate churches where godly leadership flourishes and the whole body grows strong together in love. |
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