There are many who aspire to be leaders, and the reasons for such aspirations are many and varied. I subscribe to the notion that leadership is about service first, and being a servant isn’t always easy. So if you want to be a leader because you believe it to be the path to glitz, glamour, and glory, keep this story in mind.
Our church sadly said goodbye to one of its founding families this weekend. While the departure was sudden, we cannot say that it was unexpected. There had been signs of discomfort for some time. As a leader this sadness was compounded by the amount of personal time spent with this family, and the personal relationship we perceived that we had. In the end, our relationship afforded us the privilege of being notified of their departure five minutes before service began on their last Sunday as members.
Know, that as we announced the departure of this family from our ministry, we celebrated their work among, connection to, and time with us as members. We assured them, and the congregation, that while they would no longer be members of our local fellowship they were absolutely still a part of our family and our relationships were secure. These things, for us and all Christians, should be non-negotiable.
As a leader, if you were to allow your mind to wander, you may ask what you did wrong? You may wonder if you should ever give as much of yourself to another individual, couple, or family again? You may question your abilities or calling as a leader? I would encourage you not to give in to the temptation. This is the hard side of leadership.
We are called, as servant leaders, to give ourselves freely and willingly without expecting that we will receive anything in return. Service is our reward. We sow into the lives of others, recognizing that we may never see the harvest. We get our delight in knowing that we have done all that we could to make sure that the fallow ground had been broken, the rows were hoed straightly, the soil was properly nourished, and the correct seeds were planted. We are stewards. We don’t own people. We are given an opportunity, for a time, to speak into their lives the life that God intends for them to live for his glory. Sometimes we may get to see the fruit. Sometimes we only get dirty. To God be the glory!
