LEADERS AND ‘LEANERS’

Mondays are never easy for pastors. Some review numbers and sermons. Some receive bad feedback or no feedback. Whether it’s the sense of achievement following a good day on Sunday, or a sense of failure after a bad one – we are vulnerable. Pride, disguised as insecurity or invincibility, comes out to bite.

The naked truth is, leaders need ‘leaners’. Yeah, I just made up that word. It reminded me of one of my favourite Bible passages that describes team ministry in leadership, in Exodus 17.

⁸ While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. ⁹ Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.”

¹⁰ So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. ¹¹ As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage.¹² Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. ¹³ As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle.

Moses was smart and humble enough not to try to do this alone. He did not get insecure about people’s potential rumours that would point out to his mighty job of holding the staff, while the brave new warrior would be on the frontline. He did not look very commanding having to lean on a stone and be supported by two other leaders.

But Moses had learned the humility lessons the hard way already. He did not care. This was not about him and his image.This was about serving and supporting. Together, as a team. True leaders will never look for occasions that make them shine but will always see the higher pursuit that goes way beyond personal glory.

If you’re a leader, who are your ‘leaners’? Have you humbly acknowledged them? Have you sincerely cried out to them?

If you’re not a leader, who can you be a ‘leaner’ for today. Chose the so called ‘small’ things as they most often matter more than you could imagine.