Saturday: 9th February, 2019
Reference text: Hebrews 13:15-17,21-22
Hebrews 13:17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
There is room for further debate, but if you want two guaranteed ways to make a bad leader:
1. Offer them power without limits
2. Give them difficult and rebellious followers
Often, leaders are deemed to be in places of authority, hence, they are expected to know how to deal with any group of people. Maybe so, but even the strongest of leaders reach a tipping point when the people ahead of whom they stand are not very helpful. Thus, unlike many texts that mention what leaders should be doing, today the focus is shifted from what is expected of leaders to their followers.
Expectation 1: Have confidence in your leaders: this culminates into obedience because when one is confident in the ability of their leader, they are willing to follow when given commands. The most frustrating thing for a leader is to be in charge of a team of people who do not wish to follow. We should not undermine the authority of those who lead us, but rather seek constructive ways of voicing concerns if we have any.
Expectation 2: let your leaders serve you with with joy. This is not even a request, it is an imperative and one that is beneficial for you. Leaders who have rebellious followers, will identify all means possible to curtail their rebellion and that is certainly for the benefit of no one.
Beloved, sometimes while people rush to be in the lead, in some places, everyone turns away from positions of authority because of the known nature of those who are to be led. Let us not be numbered amongst those who make leadership a burden, instead of a joy.
#sly
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