The Faithful Man – Part 1: The Man as a Leader

The Man as a Leader

A leader is guided by principles, not by feelings or passing whims. The moment a man leads solely according to his emotions or personal desires, he ceases to be a true leader and becomes a despot—a dictator who does not lead but merely imposes his will on others.

If a man is to lead faithfully, then by what law should he lead? Should it be the law of his country, his tribe, or his clan?

Certainly, many customs and cultural principles have value. They often contain wisdom that has been passed down through generations. Yet they are ultimately products of imperfect people. As such, they are often marked by loopholes, prejudice, bias, and inconsistencies. In some cases, these traditions can even be weaponized by either husband or wife to justify harmful behaviour or to oppress the other. They cannot, therefore, serve as the ultimate rulebook for a faithful man. We must look higher.

Should we instead follow what is commonly called "natural law"? That phrase itself means different things to different people and cultures. To some, nature teaches survival of the fittest—eat or be eaten, kill or be killed. While nature reveals much about God's creation, it does not by itself provide a sufficient moral standard for how a man ought to lead his home.

What about empathy? Empathy is valuable, and every godly man should seek to understand and care for others. Yet human emotions are inconsistent. Our hearts are not always selfless or trustworthy. Feelings can change, and empathy without truth can become partiality.

So where, then, should a faithful man turn?

The answer is the Word of God.

In 2 Timothy 3:16–17, Paul writes:

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

If Scripture is sufficient to equip the servant of God for every good work, then it is certainly sufficient to equip a man for leadership in his home.

According to this passage, Scripture is profitable for four purposes:

  • Teaching

  • Rebuking

  • Correcting

  • Training in righteousness

These four functions will form the foundation of this series. In the articles that follow, we will explore each one in turn and consider how God's Word shapes a faithful man, a faithful husband, and, by His grace, a faithful leader of the home. 

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