Gifting is not a qualification for being a leader. Character is!

January 26th, 2022

By: David Hoskins

I have worked with many leaders who need validation and feel they are being held back because they are not released to minister on the level or recieve the title they are aspiring to. As if having a title means you are actually doing something.

Ambition often tells us we are qualified before Holy Spirit does. One of the qualification for being a leader is that you are tested. In truth God is many times protecting emerging leaders by not putting them on the front lines of ministry until they are spiritually and emotionally ready for the warfare that will come.

Often they are unaware that hell has a plan to abort and destroy their calling, their person, and their family. That is why there are the many character qualifications for being a leader in the body of Christ. The enemy seizes upon our weakness to take us down. Those qualifications are a protection and why the Bible says to lay hands on no one suddenly.

Emerging leaders need to do the work of ministry under the protection of mature leaders so that they can grow into the role while gaining the character they are lacking. The title should come as a validation of character and gifting. We must be ready and have enough strength of character to sustain us in the times of warfare, grief, loss, defeat and especially promotion.

As a rule, I appoint leaders early in the process as long as they are sufficiently aligned with me for the stages of development that are yet to be developed in their lives. If they are too eager and tend to be independently minded, I will release them slowly because their egos will often be their downfall. Gifting and charisma are not in the list of qualifications to be a leader. Those things come easier than we realize but character has to be forged in our lives through process by leaders who will be honest with us about what is lacking.

So many times it is the case that people are gifted enough to be set apart for ministry but their lack of developed character will not sustain them in the warfare that will follow.

My counsel to over zealous emerging leaders is to trust those who are responsible for their safety in this matter. And allow God to raise them up in time.

Hebrews 13:17 (NIV)

17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.