Outline: A Godly Leader is Self-Discipline

Note: This is the ninth installment in our series on biblical leadership.

A Godly Leader is Self-Discipline

Selected Verse

Establish the need: Do you struggle with self-discipline?

 

Purpose: Today we shall three points so that we would be self-disciplined both as a Christian and also as a godly leader.

1. The importance of self-discipline
2. The example of self-discipline
3. How to cultivate self-discipline

 

Quick Comments about meaning of self-discipline

• The dictionary’s definition for self-discipline: “the ability to make yourself do things when you should, even if you do not want to do them.”[1]
• Here I will use the term discipline and self-control interchangeably with self-discipline.

 

 

The importance of self-discipline

Even if you are not a leader it is important to be self-discipline

1. Godliness require self-discipline: “But stay away from worthless stories that are typical of old women. Rather, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7)
   1. Notice the second half of this verse mention about the disciplining oneself.
   2. The purpose of disciplining oneself is mentioned here as being for “godliness”
2. Secondly, benefit for this life: “for bodily training is just slightly beneficial, but godliness is beneficial for all things, since it holds promise for the present life” (1 Timothy 4:8a)
   1. Earlier in 1 Timothy 4:7 Paul said discipline is important for godliness.
   2. Here Paul compares bodily discipline with discipline for godliness; Paul is honest to say “for bodily training is just slightly beneficial.”
   3. Yet with “slightly beneficial” is still beneficial!
   4. Still a holistic self-discipline driven by godliness “is beneficial for all things.”
   5. What does “all things” entail? Paul said things for “the present life”
3. Thirdly, benefit for the life to come: “and also for the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8b)= Discipline looks beyond the here and now and somehow there is benefit for the life after.

Why is it important for leaders? (3 Reasons)

1. Reason 1: Self-control is a moral requirement of Godly leadership:
   1. “but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,” (Titus 1:8)
      1. Here is Paul’s list of what are the qualification for a church overseer (Titus 1:7).
      2. Notice one of the requirement is that a church leader have the virtue of being “self-controlled”
   2. “An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,” (1 Timothy 3:2)
      1. Again here is Paul’s list of what are the qualification for a church overseer.
      2. Notice one of the requirement is that a church leader have the virtue of being “prudent,” can be translated by other version as “self-controlled.”
      3. This adjective comes from the root “Cosmos” which is the ordered world and thus it describes what is well arranged, moderate or modest (Kitchen, 126).
   3. Why is self-discipline important as a moral qualification for leadership? Discipline helps us to operate by principle rather than pleasure.[2] Thus we are not surprised to see it being a requirement in Scripture.
2. Reason 2: If one lack self-discipline in controlling his own life, how can he control other matters outside of himself?
   1. Someone without self-control will be controlled and dominated by others and outside circumstances: “Like a city that is broken into and without walls Is a man who has no control over his spirit.” (Proverbs 25:28)
   2. In such an instance it is hard to lead well.
3. Reason 3: Lack of self-discipline lead to disqualification of leadership
   1. John MacArthur said: “There is one snare that has probably caused the downfall of more leaders than any other hazard: a lack of personal discipline” [3]
   2. People fall from leadership because of Sex, Salary (money), Self-importance (pride).
   3. Yet before those failure often leaders first failed to be self-controlled and self-disciplined.

 

The example of self-discipline

1. Negative example of David: “Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they brought destruction on the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem. 2 Now at evening time David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance. 3 So David sent servants and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” 4 Then David sent messengers and [b]had her brought, and when she came to him, he slept with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house. 5 But the woman conceived; so she sent word and informed David, and said, “I am pregnant.” (2 Samuel 11:1-5)
   1. Notice the setting in verses 1-2 indicate David was not doing what he was supposed to do, which is the opposite of being self-discipline:
      1. The expectation was for David to be in battle: “it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle” (1a)
      2. Instead we see David being idle: “Now at evening time David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king’s house” (2a)
   2. From this David now set himself up to face temptation: “, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance” (v.2b)
2. David committed adultery (v.3-5) and eventually the murder of Uriah, the husband of Bathshedba.
3. In 2 Samuel 12 God brings a prophet Nathan to confront David’s sin. David’s sin began with the problem of lack of self-discipline brought about negative consequences as a leader.

Positive example of Paul

1. Discipline involves sacrifice and self-denial.
2. Paul had right to be financially supported according to 1 Corinthians 9:1-15.[4]
3. But he chose to forgo his right as seen in 1 Corinthians 9:12, 9:15.[5]
4. So to make a living Paul became a tent maker: Acts 18:3.
5. To do both ministry and another vocation require self-discipline.
6. Paul was an example of self-discipline and sacrificial self-denial as a leader.

 

 

How to cultivate self-discipline

1. Pray for self-discipline
   1. Self-discipline is something God gives you: 2 Timothy 1:7; Galatians 5:22.
   2. If this is true then pray to God to ask Him for self-discipline!
   3. Believe God will answer the prayer!
   4. But also make sure you are asking with the right motive (James 4:3).
2. Do not say “I cannot” in regards to being self-discipline!
   1. Sometimes when we lack self-discipline it is because we struggle with the sins of laziness.
   2. Mediate on 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”
   3. The truth from the passage is that God always allow a way out of sins including the sins of being a sluggard.
   4. Meditate on that verse in order to give you hope!
3. Stay focus on the Main Goal: “Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)[6]
   1. Of course the main goal is to live for God.
   2. Paul here describes it as a race and focusing on going forward.
   3. When we keep “looking back” or looking at others instead of the goal of God’s calling on our lives we are going to get in trouble.
   4. Likewise in other areas of life we must focus on our goal.
4. Put effort into what you are doing yet knowing God is the one working in you: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10)
   1. Notice Paul labored.
   2. Paul even said he labored more than the other Apostles!
   3. Yet there was no room for pride since Paul knew it was God working in him: “yet not I, but the grace of God with me”
5. As you pursue self-discipline to get things done set realistic achievable goals towards your big goals so you don’t be discouraged.
6. Gersom Clark has a good point to add here: Make a list; this will be a helpful tool.
7. Live simply: Get rid of distractions which can undermine self-discipline
8. Set an alarm to discipline yourself in regards to your time.[7]

 

[1] Source: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/self-discipline.

[2] John MacArthur, Called to Lead (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004), 153.

[3] John MacArthur, Called to Lead (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004), 145.

[4] John MacArthur, Called to Lead (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004), 153.

[5] John MacArthur, Called to Lead (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004), 153.

[6] John MacArthur, Called to Lead (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004), 148.

[7] Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXXFkFR92gM

 

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