CARING ENOUGH TO LEAD
| Most of us realize that
this congregation needs leadership. We don’t want just any kind of
leadership, but we do want, and need spiritual leadership. If we
are going to develop the sort of leaders that God desires, we must go to
the Bible for guidance. Specifically, the book of Nehemiah offers
several leadership principles. Let’s look at one of those principles.
In Neh. 1:1ff Nehemiah finds out about the distressing conditions in Jerusalem,
how the walls and temple had been destroyed and how the few Jews who had
been left behind lived in utter squalor. Neh. 1:4 says; “When I heard
these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted
and prayed before the God of heaven.” (NIV)
The first characteristic that a true leader must have is concern for those who are being led. You notice that Nehemiah’s concern for his people caused him we to, fast, and pray. The leader that does not care cannot lead. This church needs leaders who care, and not just shepherds. Certainly we want, and need shepherds. However, we need leaders in every age group. We need older women to lead younger women. We need fathers to lead their sons. We are not waiting to obtain shepherds so they can, alone, lead the congregation. So each of us must look at ourselves to see if we have genuine concern for those around us. Do we care enough to cry, fast and pray for this church? I hope so. |
Ethan