Leadership and Acts 6:1-7

Acts 6:1-7 shows us an important lesson in leadership.  Naturally, when placed in a leadership role, its easy to:

• Try to do everything yourself
• Try to be great at everything
• Put effort into growing our weaknesses
• Exercise authority in areas where we lack competence (Which derails projects and demotivates others)

Instead, we should:

• Not strive to be well rounded, but focus on how we can add value with our strengths
• Realize that some people love to do the things we hate to do - let them do it!  Delegation means growth for those we delegate to.
• Get things done through other people

EXAMPLE #1

Read Acts 6:1-7.  The disciples decided not to serve food, but focused on prayer and the ministry.  In return, the word spread and the number of disciples grew rapidly.

EXAMPLE #2

In the worst to first years of the Braves, they had several great preachers - Maddux, Smoltz, Avery.  These guys were highly sought-after players - NOT for their batting averages, but for their pitching.  They we're REALLY good at one thing.  Pitching.

Just some thoughts reflected in reading Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley.

The Narrow Gate

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  Matthew 7:13

Maybe we should be more surprised when people don't act foolish - instead of being angry when people do...

Just some thoughts after reading a Wayne Dyer book...

Ego and self-importance are strange feelings... They seem to leave us feeling offended by others and ultimately misidentifying ourselves by our achievements, income, and possessions. After all, what good are these things in our final days? Yet, they typically serve as our primary motivation throughout life. Shouldn’t we value ourselves on character, integrity, kindness, etc? Ego places us in a situation where we consider ourselves greater than those who have accomplished less, and offended by those who have accomplished more. The reality is that there is always someone who makes more money and has more stuff, so by being egotistical, we find ourselves competing with our peers instead of cooperating with them (and often feeling defeated).
I’m not quite sure how to drawl the line here though. Doesn’t self-importance drive competition and innovation – making the world a better place? I’m sure it has something to do with being content with what you have, and while striving to be a better person each and every day, realizing that achievements, income, and possessions come in their own time.

Maybe the Bible touches on it in Matthew 5, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life….But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.”