Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 129 - The Cost of Leadership; Mar 10:42-45.Title: Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 129 - The Cost of Leadership; Mar 10:42-45.
Announcements / opening prayer:
8. Time: The good leader manages his time affectively so that he may be the servant of all.
In the face of the sobering reality of the gift of time, the leader must carefully select priorities.
He must thoughtfully weigh the value of different opportunities and responsibilities. He cannot spend time on secondary matters while essential obligations are screaming for attention. A day needs careful planning and not one of just being tossed here and there by the wind. At the same time, the leader must understand that his plans need to be adapted to accommodate for unforeseen matters that jump up the priority list.
It is a fruitful exercise to record how each hour in a week was spent and to look at the big picture. Just done once, one would be able to see the pattern of how he spends his time.
David Livingston, the famous Scottish missionary, at age ten, worked in a cotton mill in Dumbarton fourteen hours a day. Surely he had excuses for not studying, for not redeeming the little leisure left to him. But he learned Latin and could read Horace and Virgil at age sixteen. At age twenty-seven, he had finished a program in both medicine and theology.
Our Lord moved through time with measured steps, never hurried, though always surrounded by demands and crowds. He was not bothered by interruptions.
He often, in the midst of a task, was approached by a stranger to whom He gave the impression that He had no more important concern than the needs of His visitor. In teaching, in work, in prayer, and in ministering to all around Him, He was constantly assured that He was filling His time according to the Father's plan and nothing gave Him more pleasure than the Father's good pleasure.
Joh 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
Joh 11:6 When therefore He heard that he was sick, He stayed then two days longer in the place where He was.
For Christ, twenty-four hours in a day was sufficient to complete the entire will of God.
No interruption disturbed the serenity of the Son of God. Few things produce tension in the life of a busy person than interruptions. But to our Lord there was no such thing as an "unexpected event."
Our steps are established by the Lord and all things have been foreseen by Him and have been determined or allowed by Him. Nothing should be seen as a pesky interruption, even if it be the attack of the enemy in attempting to distract us.
God's sends people our way and not only when it is convenient for us. If we see these times as being a part of the will of God then we will not get annoyed.
Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
And also, we must understand our limitations. Often, too much pressure is put upon a leader due to the fact that he has assumed tasks that God has not assigned.
God does not provide the extra strength needed for such things.
This is common when a leader is concerned with approbation from others. God has a magnificent way of working such nonsense out of a life. Nothing should be done to be noticed by men. To avoid it is to avoid many heartaches.
In fellowship with the Lord we will understand what He wills for us to do. We must not attempt more out of arrogance.
If in anything we are confused about priorities we must seek God's counsel in prayer.
Jam 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Jam 1:6 But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
Jam 1:7 For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
Jam 1:8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Of W. E. Sangster, prominent Methodist preacher, his son wrote: "Time was never wasted. The difference between one minute and two was of considerable consequence to him. He would appear from his study. "My boy, you're not doing anything. I have exactly twenty-two minutes. We'll go for a walk. We can walk right around the common in that time." He then hurtled out of the house at tremendous speed and I normally had to run to catch up. He would then discourse on current affairs (five minutes), Surrey's prospects in the country championship (two minutes), the necessity for revival (five minutes), the reality of the Loch Ness monster (two minutes), and the sanctity of William Romaine (three minutes). By that time we would be home again."
A leader needs a balanced approach to time or it will be his downfall. Without a grip of time and organization he will find himself under undue pressure. Laziness will also cause stress in that not enough was done to be ready for the proper time to walk in the work that God ordained. He must prioritize and delegate since he alone cannot take care of every need. It is a wonderful use of prayer to plan a day with God - a morning meeting with God to start the day.
A leader is responsible only for what lies within the range of his ability, and the rest must be left to God. This should give him rest and not angst.
Procrastination and laziness are the thieves of time. They are potent weapons for the devil.
The habit of putting off is fatal to effective leadership. It's power resides in our natural reluctance to come to grips with important decisions. Making decisions and acting on them always requires moral energy and usually saying NO to the flesh. Putting off does not make the task any easier; quite the opposite.
If it is available to do it now then do it now.
Whether a believer holds an official position of leadership or not, all believers are leaders from time to time since they influence others. Like anything in the spiritual life, leadership can and should be improved.
9. The Cost of Leadership. The toll of leadership is heavy, to aspire to it is to be willing to pay a higher price than the common man.
The cost of leadership is not paid in one lump sum but over a lifetime of living under the Master's master principle. We cannot save others and save ourselves at the same time.
The leader must pick up his cross and follow Christ as all other Christians are called to do, yet his cross cannot be thrown aside and still effectively lead. Any reversionism in his life will affect those he leads.
A leader must pick up his cross and follow Christ. No cross - no leadership.
Mar 10:35 And James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Him, saying to Him, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You."
Mar 10:36 And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?"
Mar 10:37 And they said to Him, "Grant that we may sit in Your glory, one on Your right, and one on Your left."
Mar 10:38 But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking for. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"
Mar 10:39 And they said to Him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.
Mar 10:40 "But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared."
Mar 10:41 And hearing this, the ten began to feel indignant with James and John.
Mar 10:42 And calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them.
Mar 10:43 "But it is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you [lead] shall be your servant;
Mar 10:44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.
Mar 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
The cost of leadership is high, but the rewards are higher, and the greatest reward is to see another life affected by Christ through you.
All the OT heroes of faith in Heb 11 were called to sacrifice and service and they each knew that it was the call from God to do so and not from themselves. Whenever a person calls himself to sacrifice it is always for a selfish reason - mostly approbation or recognition. |