Leaders are Readers
My grade twelve English teacher would regularly say: Leaders are Readers. In grade twelve, I didn’t know what she was talking about. But now I do.
I’m pretty sure I’m not a book nerd, but in some ways I wouldn’t mind being one. I recently heard of one guy who claimed he reads 300 books a year! In fact, I had a university professor who said he read one book a day for many years (speed reading to be exact).
To be honest, I don’t really have a lot of patience or sympathy for those in leadership positions (especially in a church context) who don’t like to read or make time to read. I understand that many are busy and want to read more than they do but their schedules prohibit them from reading as they would like. But some pastors act like owning a personal library might be a sin. They think that taking the time to read is actually wasting time.
But Paul didn’t think like this. He told Timothy to be sure to bring him the books and especially the parchments (2 Timothy 4:13). The books, according to commentator Hiebert, “would contain writings on the cheaper and more perishable papyrus paper, while the parchments have reference to writings considered of higher importance since they were written on the costlier and more permanent skins of vellum.” Now no one knows for sure what Paul is referring to here. But Hiebert goes on to say “that rolls of the Old Testament Scriptures were among them seems obvious. Whatever their contents, Paul’s desire now for his books is inspiring. Even as an old man facing certain death, the apostle has not lost his interest for study and mental pursuits. It presents a standing challenge to the minister to be an indefatigable student, especially of the Word of God.”
Why do some Christians want to follow Paul’s example in soul-winning and missions but not his example in reading and studying? How much importance do you put on reading? What does that say about your leadership or lack thereof?
Oh, and another thing my grade twelve English teacher would say: “He who does not read is no better off than he who cannot read.” What do you think?
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