The Lonely Path

One of the mantras of today's society is that everyone is a leader. There is some truth to that as everyone has been given the authority to make choices that affect someone, even if that someone is only yourself. 

But mostly I think the ubiquitous teaching that everyone is a leader has been born more out of an inadvertant desire to accommodate a culture of self promotion. 

We desire to have influence because this makes us feel more important. We desire to belong to something bigger than ourselves but too often express this desire by making ourselves look bigger. 

The problem is that if everyone wants to be a leader then who is left to follow?  Even saying "follow" rings hollow to modern ears. It sounds somehow 'less':  less important, less influential, just less.....

And I think that we struggle to understand the heart of Jesus, the heart in true believers, if we do not question the 'wisdom' of the world that resides in us. 

Paul is considered one of the greatest leaders of the Christian church, and these are some of his thoughts describing being a leader:

2 Corinthians 11:27-31 NIV

"I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying."

Sleepless nights.  Why?  Because Paul had been given a responsibility for others that would not easily go away. Cold and naked. Why?  Because his course entailed sacrificing himself in order to accomplish the tasks at hand which often meant that he needed to put himself second. Weak?  This is one that simply is not understood at all in terms of leadership today- to us weakness shows that you are an unfit leader. But then God himself says 'when you are weak, then you are strong'. 

Leadership is a lonely path because it has nothing to do with self promotion, and everything to do with self sacrifice. 

I wonder if there would be such a stampede of teaching, courses, and general agreement that 'everyone is a leader' if the model of Paul and Jesus were seen clearly?

But we must not stop here. Paul concludes by saying that though he struggles, though his life has many challenges as a leader, he knows enough to say that the reason why his life as a leader makes sense is because of God the Father. 

The sacrifice makes sense in the light of the grand picture of redemption. His weakness is acceptable given the fact that his identity is not wrapped up in his accomplishments but in his relationship with God. He understands that the sacrifices he makes only make sense in the context of service, of following. 

If true leadership means following God, then we are all being called to be leaders because that is exactly what the Gospel is about. 

But it might look kind of lonely. 

Are you willing to go there?  

BT

Pastor Brian Tysdal

Rock of Ages Church

Saskatoon, Sask.