Danger

Question: do you want to be a leader in your church?  Do you want to be the one in charge, maybe an elder, a youth pastor, a kid’s pastor, a deacon or a teacher in the church?  

I think all these things are commendable goals but along with them come a great responsibility.  Many of us want to feel important and be looked up to as role models and there is nothing wrong with that, the problem is this, what are your intentions and what are your motives?  I know that all these ministries will be rewarding if your motives and intentions are to glorify the Lord, but if not, there will be consequences.

Understand this, being a believer doesn’t eradicate the flesh, it is still alive and thriving and it is still trying to control our lives and many times we yield to its desires.  The flesh wants its own way and wants to do its own thing and wants all the attention it can get.  We have the power to resist the flesh through the Holy Spirit who dwells in every true believer, but we don’t always choose to walk in the Spirit so the flesh can rear its ugly head, so to speak, and take charge of our lives.  

When we chose to walk in the flesh we will satisfy the desires of the flesh and we will grieve the Holy Spirit, through which we have been sealed for the day of redemption.  If we walk in the flesh, our motives, and even our intentions, will be a hindrance and not a help causing whatever ministry we are in to suffer.  I have heard it said that, “the road to Hell is filled with good intentions.”  Good intentions without actions, or acting on that good intention, means nothing at all.  When you are in authority, you have a great responsibility to those that you are in authority over.  

In this case I will be relating to overseers, the leaders in Israel.  It says this in Isaiah 56:10-12, “They are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.  Yes, they are greedy dogs which never have enough.  And they are shepherds who cannot understand; they all look to their own way, every one for his own gain, from his own territory.  ‘Come,’ one says, ‘I will bring wine, and we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink; tomorrow will be as today, and much more abundant.”’

This is what it says about these leaders in the footnotes of my Bible, “The leaders of Israel were blind to every danger.  Apathetic about their people’s needs, they were more concerned about satisfying their own greed. Leadership‘s special privileges can cause the leader either to sacrifice for the good of his people or to sacrifice the people for his own greed.  If you are in a leadership position, use it for the good of your people.”

I think this would be a good message for the leaders of our government today as well.  I think every leader has a potential to fall into this sin, which some have, plus other pitfalls, so you can understand that there are dangers in leadership.  So if you are a leader, be careful not to fall into these sins that will end up disqualifying you.  Paul said this in 1^st Corinthians 9:24-27, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

Something to think about, I hope this will be a help to all who need to hear it.  May the Lord bless you and yours and may you have a great day!! Don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord!