Who is equipping and building you up?
“And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ… Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching.” – Ephesians 4:11-12,14, CSB
God knows you need help
It’s not just you, it’s me. It’s all of us. We all need help, and God knows it. Don’t worry, He’s not shocked that you don’t already know everything or have it all together! You can stop pretending, at least on the outside, like you do. What a relief! Instead, the real you that so wants to grow, mature, and be a help to others, can embrace His plan.
God’s provision for our input
We all need input into our lives, and God has made real provision for that through apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers, God-initiated leadership gifts to His people. With their help, we are equipped to discover and work well together in the ministries that God has for each of us to do. And we do each have a significant role! You have a role.
God-honoring trajectory
Rather than being blown all over the place with the ever-shifting winds of human teaching, or tossed around randomly like debris on choppy water, good leadership helps us stay on a healthy, God-honoring trajectory through life. Together, these leaders help us grow up, not just physically, but in wisdom and emotional maturity. They help us mature into the roles and work to which we are called. That work, whatever our unique expression of it may be, will also include building other people, building culture (the kingdom-culture of God), and building generations of Jesus-loving, Christ-confident, people-serving followers of Jesus.
Inter-connected, not individualistic
Part of own growth and maturing in Christ is the important lesson that our calling and work is not an individualistic one, not a “me-and-Jesus” or a “my ministry” trajectory, and this too is part of the role of leadership: helping us to understand this truth and take up our inter-connected role of responsibility within the Body of Christ.
Think:
Whatever your current role or work, how are you currently building others up and building the kingdom-culture of God through that work? What is one way that you could?
Do you have relationships with trusted leaders who are helping you develop and mature in your own gifts? Write down the names of at least two or three. When is the last time you asked for their input? Set up a conversation with one of them about this topic of development, growth, and healthy inter-dependence.
If you’ve been in leadership for a while, do you often find yourself talking about “my ministry” or “my calling”? The next time you do, intentionally shift your conversation to also talk about the ministry of others. Biblical leadership is more focused on building up others and the ministry of others.
Prayer:
“Jesus, thank You for Your provision of leadership gifts in my life. Thank You for people who love me, lead me, and help me find the course You’ve designed, and then stay the course! Through their help, may I continue to mature in who You have called me to be. May I in turn be a source of help, direction, and maturing input for others who You privilege me to influence.”