Principles of Leadership - Be Available Part 2

 

This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters.

During 2022, my theme is “10 Principles of Spiritual Leadership”.  Last time we introduced principle #5, “Be Available”.

In the previous episode I shared Philippians 2:4-5 from the Message version, “Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.  Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage.  Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.  Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself.  He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. [emphasis added]

Today I’d like to share another of the Apostle Paul’s instructions, also using the Message version.  Romans 15:1-2 instructs us, “Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?” [emphasis added]

This scripture, in this version, is very personal to me.  You see, three years ago this month I was asked to consider the role of Africa Regional Director.  Several of us were in Ethiopia at the time, and one afternoon the OMS Executive Director invited me to consider the role.  Later that day, and for the remainder of my time in Africa that trip, this scripture repeated itself regularly in my mind.  “Strength is for service, not status.”  This opportunity for me to serve is not about having an impressive-sounding title; it is all about serving those whom I lead. 

This phrase also admonishes Christ-followers.  “Do not just do what is most convenient for [ourselves]”.  Servant leadership requires us to inconvenience ourselves at times … to set aside or postpone our own plans and desires. 

Human nature tells us to look after ourselves.  In my country we have an idiom about this … “Look out for #1 (oneself)”.  However, our redeemed natures have a higher calling as instructed by Paul.  We need to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”

Godly leaders serve others by being available to help them.  In addition, we need to be proactive and intentional in not only understanding their needs but also finding ways in which we can help meet those needs. 

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.