Open & consume with great CAUTION!

June 25, 2010
Leadership Clip to Evernote
1

Many desire to be leaders but don’t understand what comes in that package. On the outside it looks great! ‘It will taste great, and give a life that is less filling’ (yes I stole that line, but it fits). Some see those in leadership as:

  • Having the authority to move teams
  • Having the ability to chase the dream
  • Having the freedom to change things

In most cases, these may be true, and that’s what’s seen on the label, but open it…And begin to partake of the leadership nectar and all of sudden it has a bite like a Cobra!

Leadership is just not for everyone! Don’t be fooled by what you see on the label. The truth is…

  • A leader is many times lonely & stands alone
  • A leader carries a burden, that no companion can help carry (Tasks yes, burden no)
  • A leader must stand against the forces that would challenge their conviction
  • A leader is many times attacked and  slandered unfairly (it does hurt)
  • A leader will have those they trusted abandon them
  • A leader will be asked to lead in areas where they feel ill-equipped

Don’t be fooled by what you may see! Leadership is a difficult and lonely place, but also an extremely rewarding place! Don’t press into leadership with the idea it will be easy or make life more merry. I don’t see that at all! Know your calling! And if it leadership…

Open & consume with great CAUTION!

About artie: I'm the lead Pastor at Cornerstone, a Multi-Ethnic church in the heart of Orangeburg, South Carolina. Also the founder of the Comb Network.com, a movement to plant Multi-Ethnic, culturally relevant churches in smaller cities. I direct a gathering of small city leader called "The Sticks."

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  • http://intensedebate.com/people/Joe_Sewell Joe Sewell

    True, true. James 3:1's warning to teachers really applies to leadership in general. (One could even note that most teachers in that day were today's church leadership, but even if that isn't true, the principle still holds.)

    I think we all have a little "control freak" in us, desiring to be "large and in charge" … or large because you're in charge. Some of us get that out of a sense of frustration, after other leaders refuse to listen to our ideas. OK, more often than not the idea isn't worth listening to. :) Too many leaders (1 is "too many"), though, shut down their ears as they bark orders.

    This isn't good leadership. I seriously doubt you should call it "leadership" at all.

    But that's who leads too many churches (ibid.) today.

    And we do need fewer of those.