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Reluctant Leadership?Reluctant Leadership?
by Mike Barres
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After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest" (Luke 10:1-2 NKJV).

The need is great in the time in which we find ourselves. The message of hope in Jesus Christ is our only answer. And as the scripture quoted above describes, we need far more laborers to go out and do the Father's work. And we need leaders to help make that happen. But, leaders are in short supply!

Moses appointed leaders. King David appointed leaders. The Church at Jerusalem had leaders. The books of 1 Timothy and Titus talk about the qualifications of leaders. In fact, any time in scripture that there are groups of people, we also find a great need for leaders to coordinate, encourage and give direction to those people. Many folks, in every era including today, have been reluctant to lead.

Guess what? These reluctant leaders are in good company.

God is not just looking at our ability, but also at our availability.
Gideon felt that he lacked what was needed to be a leader. Moses mentioned his weaknesses and his poor public speaking along with his doubt about his leadership potential. Saul tried to hide. Samuel nearly overlooked King David.

There seems to be a leadership shortage today. This is not new, either. Paul mentions this problem in describing Timothy as his son in the faith:

I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:19-21).

God is not just looking at our ability, but also at our availability. If we walk in humility before God, trusting in His power to help and sustain us, He can use us. The best kind of leader is a servant leader, one who really cares about others as the Lord does. Sometimes others see leadership potential in us and we don't see it. So if someone asks you to lead, in a task great or small, prayerfully consider it. The need is great. We don't want to self-appoint ourselves to leadership, but we should all have a willingness to do whatever the Lord wants us to do. If we follow His lead, He can use us to lead!

 
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      © 2009 Mike Barres.

      Title: "Reluctant Leadership?"
      Author: Mike Barres
      Publication Date: April 27, 2009

 
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Mike Barres Mike is a pastor and writer for a number of online publications.

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HOME     topTOP HEARTLIGHT® Magazine is produced by Heartlight, Inc. HEARTLIGHT is a registered service mark of Heartlight, Inc. PO Box 7044, Abilene, TX, USA 79608-7044. Copyright © 1996-2009. Heartlight is supported by Westover Hills Church, Southern Hills Church, and loving Christians from around the world. Scripture quotations are taken from the Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. Used by permission. All rights reserved.