Good leadership fights for those that work alongside them. A good leader works to make others successful and have all that they need. Paul did that for Timothy, his son in the faith.
“When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers” (v. 10-11).
What Paul is implying here is that they should financially and materially support him however they could. He is doing the work of the Lord.
“No one, then, should treat him with contempt.”
Timothy was young. But he was no less a valuable player on the team. Furthermore, he was no less deserving of their support.
Now there are instructions about Apollos. What do we know about him?
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Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.
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When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.
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While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples
Apollos was a very important man in the church. So much so that people identified themselves with his leadership and ministry. He was up there with Peter and Paul but not as an apostle.
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For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.
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whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours
Apollos bounced back and forth between Corinth and Ephesus, preaching and proclaiming the word of God. At the time Paul wrote the letter to the Corinthians, he was with Paul in Ephesus in the preaching of the gospel.
“Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity” (v. 12)
It’s not clear why Apollos resisted returning to Corinth. Maybe it was because of the hero worship he was receiving. Or perhaps it was because there was such great opportunity there in Ephesus which we read about (v. 9). But Paul did convince him to return to the city where he had ministered the gospel.
What can we take from these things? First, Paul as a leader worked for the success of others. We see this especially with Timothy where he was protecting him from being looked down upon because of his youth, and encouraged the church to support him.
Secondly, Paul worked strategically for the gospel. He needed Apollos in Corinth, and so he strongly encouraged him to go. He didn’t demand, just “strongly encouraged.”
Pastors and church leaders – Work to make those around you successful. It’s not all about directing support towards yourself. When the team is great, you become great.
Think strategically for the gospel.