Have you ever thought about why you are in a position of leadership? Perhaps you think you’ve earned it, through strenuous education, hard work, meeting goals, making good decisions. This may explain how you got to leadership, but the more important question is, what are you going to do with leadership now that you are a leader? A faith-centered leader understands that no matter what effort took place on their part to bring them into leadership, ultimately it is God who ordains the leadership role. And if God is looking over our lives and prescribing our work and purpose, then the question remains: why are you a leader? Or, to put it another way, what God-given mission are you here to accomplish?

In 1 Timothy, the Apostle Paul gives detailed instructions for leaders to his protégé, Timothy. He writes in 1 Timothy 6:11-12 that faith-centered leaders should “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness” and “fight the good fight of the faith.” God is setting a high mark for leadership in these verses which will be marked by both actions and attitudes. A few sentences later He instructs, “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share” (1 Timothy 6:18). What does it mean for a leader to be rich in good deeds?

Be a leader of action. A good deed is an action that is done for the benefit of another person or organization. Clearly Paul is communicating through his letter to Timothy that our actions are a key facet through which we express our leadership. A faith-centered life is more than encouraging others to act, or writing a check, or marching in protest. What deeds are a part of your day that doing good for your family, workplace and community?

Notice how these actions exemplify the character traits Paul wrote of in 1 Timothy 6:11-12. If we are to serve, give, help, encourage, redeem, rescue, forgive—these actions will require godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. We must pursue the latter as we act out the former. A faith-centered leader rich in good deeds is consistently acting in the interest of others.

Be a continuous servant. The Greek word for rich in 1 Timothy 6:11 is ploutéo, which means to abound in. The picture here is that our good deeds are not locked away and given sparingly on rare occasions. Rather we live lavishly good, acting regularly and with intention for the good of others. It is a continuous, ongoing and ever-present mindset of goodness toward our fellow man, regardless of the particular circumstance. Paul is telling us as faith-centered leaders, with each daily interaction, to ask, “How can I do good in this person’s life, work or family?”

In Bible times, Jewish people lived by hundreds of rules, and a strict religious hierarchy. The idea of being rich in good deeds was a foreign concept at the time. But fast forward to present day and how much more foreign is this idea in our culture? We’re told to make our own way, pursue fairness, have a side hustle, avoid toxic relationships and let’s not forget about equity, inclusion and diversity. Being rich in good deeds is instead to be self-sacrificing, with a heart to serve others and act in their best interest at every opportunity. What a tall order!

Be people-centric. We lead with our good needs because we know that relationships are more important than riches. Paul, too, made this distinction. Just before he wrote to be rich in good deeds, he told Timothy: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17).

To hope in God is to be obedient to His Words as a faithful steward of His resources. The good deeds that God prepares for us are all focused on the key work of Christ-followers on earth, which is to have a role in the redemption of God’s people. This gospel-centric mission involves building relationships with others to serve them, have a meaningful influence on their lives, and share the gospel. Good deeds aren’t performed for corporations or causes. Rather they are done for the benefit of individuals so that we may connect with them personally, professionally and spiritually.