02-05-09 The Beautiful Burden Of Leadership

THE BEAUTIFUL BURDEN OF LEADERSHIP


God’s plan for our lives is that we would be fashioned and formed into His likeness . But because our natural human dynamic is to run in the total opposite direction of this, He hedges us in with many different things to help us. One of the things he hedges us in with is by giving us people to lead. Leadership is one of the fences that God has built around every single person in order to gently guide them into greater depths of love and humility. All of us have a sphere of leadership in which we are leading in some way shape or form on a daily basis (parents to children, wives to husbands, husbands to wives , work place, in the home, etc) .

Though leading can be fun, exciting, and definitely has some “perks,” at the end of the day leadership is a burden. But the key to note is that it is a “God ordained and God orchestrated burden” which we are all called to carry in our lives to some degree. The burden of leadership is something given to help us cultivate greater humility and love in our hearts and anyone who has been leading people for a little while knows that it is one of the best gifts that God has given.

Ultimately leadership brings us into a greater dependence upon Him and thus a greater love for Him because when I don' t feel ‘ spiritually or emotionally sound’ and leading people is one of the last things I want to do, I have no other option but to pray and commune with Him. The fact that leading people demands me to do the second commandment leaves me no other option but to do the first commandment and leadership is a lot easier when I do the first commandment first and out of that I do the second commandment second!

The reason I’m stirred about this whole leadership thing is because I’m again freshly seeing the wisdom of God in it as I've started leading six small groups a week with 12-15 different people in each group. Five of the groups are focused on the End Times (E-12 groups) and one of them is focused on Zechariah & Malachi . (My favorite group that I lead is fifteen 10-13 year olds . I have been learning a great deal from them and I love our time together each week) .

I am beginning to see more and more the reasons why He’s given us this “burden.” Two things specifically have been sticking out to me regarding leadership and the fruit that comes from it :

1. Leading small group bible studies is one of the best ways to keep yourself accountable and faithful in your study of the Bible because you have to spend time preparing. In order to initiate and facilitate conversation around a specific book of the Bible or topic, you have to spend time in it before hand or you’ll end up spectating instead of leading and participating. (2 Tim. 2:14-16)

2. Leading people teaches us the value of setting our minds on things above because when you’re leading people you are required to ‘check’ your personal issues at the door and pick them back up on your way out . This also teaches us first hand about the trans forming power of His Word because many times you’ll find that whatever issues you ‘checked’ at the door are gone after you teach/discuss the word for an hour or two. (Ps . 19:7; 119:9, 11; 2 Cor . 4:18)

The law (word) of the LORD is perfect , converting the soul (Ps. 19:7)

No matter whom we’re leading in the different seasons of our lives there are always opportunities for offense and bi tterness to creep in, and many times leadership simply wears people down in their heart s until they finally want to give up on everything completely. This is why it’s so important that we view leading as God’s gift to help us grow in love and humility. It ’s also impor tant that we remember that He will never give us more than we can handle at one time. (Mt . 5:3, 6; 11:6; 2 Cor. 12:9)

"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (Mt . 16:25)

If we have the correct mindset about why we’re leading, then we will be able to lead long term with a joyful heart and avoid offense towards God and the people we’re leading. If the Mom who stays at home with her three kids all day, everyday, understands that one of the primary reasons why she’s leading her children is to become more like Christ, then her heart will flourish as she grows more and more in love for Jesus and her children. I invite you to sign up with me again afresh today and embrace the wisdom of God and HIS perfect leadership over our lives!

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served - but to serve (Mk. 10:45)


-Justin Rizzo-