The making of a leader: An example of Barnabas. Part one

In our time it would be a sin if anyone would walk in ignorance of the hundreds and certainly thousands of books, articles and presentations that have been made about making a transformative leader, a great leader and to be precise different peoples have made opinions as to whether a leader is made, born or both. Indeed this is one of those topics that would attract a huge number of audiences of all the topics if a youth seminar was to be organized. The excitement is always big, anxiety also accompany such talks. We will remain steady and observant when listen to those leaders and so on. This does not mean that it would be untrue if older men and women were to be in a seminar and the same is offered. Again it would be amazing to note that leadership cuts across all members of all sexes, all races, all cultures, all tribes and indeed all categories that we can divide men into. It’s perhaps not even surprising that most of the people whom people yarn to be are the likes of iconic leaders in their fields of specialization. Think of the likes of the late Nelson Mandela, Jomo Kenyatta, Barack Obama, Kofi Annan, Margret Thatcher, Martha Teresa, Wangari Maathai, Apples Steve Jobs, Microsoft’s Bill Gates or Pope Francis. We want to be associated with men as such who have achieved in their capacities in their time in different areas. We want to observe their way of doing things, we want to know why they reached to such heights yet their colleagues and peers did not. We observe their way of life, habits how they relate with people and in particular we pay special attention to the challenges they have come across on their journey to their position perhaps hoping to draw a few lessons from them.  We want to get their idea and philosophy of different life situations because I believe that any philosophy becomes more effective if it has a real man who lives it. It becomes more celebrated when we have a person embodying such a status, philosophy and idea. Infact lives of great men have an ability to inspire us and shape us. They shape how we think, act, prioritize things and even to some extent how we talk and dress. In doing all these I think we do not any different from what the scripture says only that we may not be aware of it because we may not have been keen about what it says in Hebrews 13: 7 “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”  In this piece of the scripture we find out that it encourages us to look up our leaders, consider their way of life and imitate them. It is as simple as that. Look at them, evaluate their conduct and lifestyle and if it is fitting, then make it your ambition to live as they did. Let their lives be an example to you when you remember the good things that they championed and lived for.  Let the outcome of the people who lead us and especially in our walk with God remind us how we ought to walk. Being faithful to their foot prints. What would we say of trying to walk behind their mentorship and love things they loved, hate things they hated and generally seeking to understand what motivated them in life and imitate them. When we live as their persona was then we are truly headed closer to living their legacy. I could go on and on imploring us but as I had said before a great idea/ philosophy is best when its lived by a real person and that is what I want us to look into and consider his life and then see if we could imitate them.

 Well, then if that’s what the Bibles us to do then we can reflect on the example of Barnabas whom despite the great accomplishment in the early church as a leader and evangelist “lacks the scholarly attention accorded to his evangelist and writing colleague, Saul/Paul.” Maybe because he just appears in a few instances but then when he does then we learn something about him. And because of that same reason of him not appearing in large continuous verses but in fragments verses, we can only recollect what we have and make meaning of it. Otherwise we have to believe that what the Bible has recorded is enough for our faith.  According to early traditions that are not recorded in the Bible, Barnabas was taught by Gamaliel and became a follower of Jesus. The Bible typically remains silent about his physical descriptions.

Acts presents Barnabas as an evangelizing apostle and church leader who exemplify model of integrity and character. Calling him a good man (Acts 11:24), a prophet and teacher (13:1), an apostle (14:14) and one through whom God worked miracles (15:12), Acts loads him with accolades. Acts recounts the times he faced persecution (13:45; 14:19) and risked his life for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (15:26).

One of the most captivating about him is his calling and election to enter God’s service. The scriptures records of a time when the apostles were gathered fasting and praying and the Holy Spirit came upon them and the apostles heard the Holy Spirit say “Let Barnabas and Saul be given to me for the special work for which they have been marked out by me” and thus from that moment he entirely entered into a partnership with his friend Saul into the vineyard of God. If it would be today we would say their positions had been officially confirmed after a rigorous recruitment process of praying and fasting.” [that of course is on a lighter not]. But this is not the first time we meet him when Saul has been converted and want to join the apostles, the apostles decline to take him in because they think he has not yet changed and was the same murderer they know. The person who persecuted those who walked in the way of faith. But Barnabas is the only disciple who took him by his hand presented his case to the other disciples and they accepted him in. By this single act he successfully demonstrate to us his very first leadership skills even before his anoiting into the church leadership. To me he demonstrates the very first signs to the fact that he was destined to a greater position. And no wonder it is not surprising that the Holy Spirit choose Him and Saul for the church ministry and leadership. With this fact in mind, one important lesson we can draw is to the effect that one who desires and aspires to be a leader must be ready to show the desire to be one. Whenever a crisis of a kind arises then step in. Whenever an opportunity presents itself then be ready to take advantage of that to demonstrate that you are capable. Indeed Barnabas was and this time the apostles were challenged and after Saul proved his full conversion and a sincere one they took him in and became a part of them. We must be ready either to face rejection but we must take a step. related to this is the story of Jesus disciples Peter and John who requested that one of them sit at the right hand and the other to the left of Jesus in his kingdom. In essence the point they were making is to be the foremost deared and loved of the disciple who were above other disciples and wanted to be the prefects of others. Its perhaps because of such bold step the Jesus left Peter entrusted and in charge of others and the whole church. When we are willing to give guidance to others and we show  humility, submission and wisdom then God will provide a way to ensure he legitimately places us in positions of influence to be shepherds of his flock. Barnabas acknowledged and and submitted to the authority of apostles before this incident as shown here below, so must we who sets their hearts to be in authority.

In this first mention of Barnabas, Luke, traditionally regarded as the writer of both Luke and Acts, recounts his generosity: Barnabas sells a field and places the money at the apostles’ feet. This public gesture and his humbleness stand in sharp contrast to the subsequent Lucan example regarding money: the conniving, lying, hording attitude of Ananias and Sapphira (5:1-11). e field’s sale and the donation of its proceeds put Barnabas in an immediate leadership position, even though he is not part of the original Twelve disciples or a member of the Seven, the Greek-speaking servants of the widows who dealt with the daily distribution of food (Acts 6:1-2, 5).
However, his single act of generosity unquestionably earned him lifelong favor and standing in the community. Through his action, he acknowledges the apostles’ authority and submits to it.

In the next part we look at what are the attributes of a leader in service, responses to crisis and then we make a summary.