Plenty to Do

Plenty to Do

Hebrews 5: Every high priest is chosen from his fellow-men and appointed to serve God on their behalf, to offer sacrifices and offerings for sins. ² Since he himself is weak in many ways, he is able to be gentle with those who are ignorant and make mistakes. ³ And because he is himself weak, he must offer sacrifices not only for the sins of the people but also for his own sins. ⁴ No one chooses for himself the honor of being a high priest. It is only by God's call that a man is made a high priest—just as Aaron was.

 

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When the position opened, I applied for it. I did not get the position, because It was clearly not in my skillset. But I wanted a promotion. A mentor said, “Don’t worry. It will come. Just be patient..” I did get promoted later.

 

• I wanted to be in charge.
• I wanted to be chosen to lead a group.
• I wanted to be in a higher position, but I could not place myself in it.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, wrote about the position of the High Priest. He explained that the High Priest was fallible. Although prone to mistakes, the High Priest was called by GOD for HIS purpose.

 

My Observations

• Though I am not called to be a High Priest, I still have plenty to do to serve the LORD.
• Even if I am not a pastor, I can lead many people back to CHRIST.
• My service to the LORD does not depend on who is leading a group of people.

 

Atonement for sin is no longer through a High Priest. I mean, JESUS was and is the ultimate sacrifice, taking away the need to use the blood of animals to symbolize the washing away of sins. HIS sacrifice provided the necessary blood to save me.

 

JESUS then sent the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside me after being raised from the dead. The HOLY SPIRIT guides me to serve others and be served when I need to be picked up. I am glad GOD cared enough for me to put me in HIS plan.

 

Challenge

• What sticks out to you in this passage?
• Have you ever wanted to be in charge?
• Will you allow GOD to open your eyes to all that is needed to be done, so you can take your eyes off of someone else’s life and accept HIS calling on your life today?

It’s not personal

2 Samuel 15: In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him.² He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” 

³ Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your claims are valid and proper, but there is no representative of the king to hear you.” ⁴ And Absalom would add, “If only I were appointed judge in the land! Then everyone who has a complaint or case could come to me and I would see that they receive justice.”

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I finally got the nerve to have lunch with a very powerful person seeking wisdom. There I sat, not knowing what questions to ask. “What seems to be the problem?” the mentor inquired. “Why am I not getting promoted?” I replied. “Business is not personal. You must do what you have to do to fight against those who will try to take your power away.”

“Wow!” I thought. This seemed cold but let me give it a try.  I watched some of the best use slander campaigns while self-promoting. I tried it and it worked. My power was on its way!

• When I forget I’m dealing with people I focus on power.
• When I think the goal is “up” I focus on power.
• When I work towards the next level instead of raising people up I focus on power.

Power makes me treat “higher” people higher and “lower” people low. It adds fear when I’m supposed to be confident and confidence when I’ supposed to be humble. Fortunately GOD placed people in my life to correct my course. “Raise people up and you will do better” were the words of another mentor. GOD also added some words.

• Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see GOD.
• Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.

GOD also said “in order to be first you must be last.” JESUS, king of all, came to Earth as a servant. HE never begged anyone to follow HIM. HE served. With HIM it was and is personal. Each soul is special and HE wants me to treat people with dignity, respect and love.

• Are you working under the “it’s not personal” way of thinking?
• Do you believe you need to bow to the god of money?
• Can you bow to the true KING?
• Won’t you focus your behaviors on being a servant rather than seeking to be served?

True Leadership

2 Samuel ¹⁵ David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people. 

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Blame was the name of the game at this particular company. My boss and my boss’s boss played the game extremely well. I wasn’t so good at it but I wanted to get ahead.  With my tiny team of three I worked to get things done. 

One person on my team was quite obnoxious because he was very knowledgeable on the system. Our tiny team would go around in circles because of arguments and discussions brought up by this guy! I thought to myself… I can blame him for our slow delivery. That was a huge mistake!

• I show poor leadership when I blame my people.
• I show poor leadership when I don’t resolve issues quickly.
• I show poor leadership when I am not sure of my direction.

This horrible experience taught me what a poor leader looks like.  After licking my wounds from the beating I received I had a lot of questions. What does a good leader look like? GOD had my answer.

• GOD says in order to be great I must be the least amongst my people.
• GOD says in order to confront people I must understand what love and compassion is.
• GOD says in order to lead many I must follow HIM for HE holds the correct path in HIS hands.

I was so busy trying to be the title that I was not being a good leader. I didn’t know my team, I didn’t know their strengths nor their weaknesses. I focused on the end goal and would get there with a lot of wounds. BUT GOD wanted me to act different. GOD wanted me to treat people right, confront with compassion and reward them for their accomplishments.

He wanted me to accept my position as a leader by following HIM and being led by HIS plans.

• Are you leading a group?
• Do you have Blame on your lips?
• Can you turn your blame into understanding of “that” person?
• Won’t you bring GOD into your leadership style and serve your team rather than forcing them to do your bidding?

GOD appoints leaders

Numbers 27: ¹⁸ So the Lord said to Moses, “Joshua, the son of Nun, has the ability to be a wise leader. Get him and place your hand on him. ¹⁹ Have him stand in front of the priest Eleazar and the whole community. Put him in charge while everyone is watching. ²⁰ Give him some of your authority. Then the whole community of Israel will obey him.

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“Who put her in charge?” was our thought when we got a new “go-getter” boss. She seemed to never stop working. Her diplomacy skills seemed sharp when she spoke to her boss but when it came to us it was a different story.  I thought about complaining, but could never find the words.

She then approached me and asked me to be the primary speaker on one of the projects we were working on.  “Maybe she isn’t so bad after all.”

• Sometimes I get mad at leaders when I’m not getting my way.
• Sometimes I think poorly of leaders based on my negative attitude.
• Sometimes I feel the leader is crazy because I didn’t take the time to understand them.

Being a leader is difficult especially when leading a group of whiners and complainers.  Each criticism is but another jab to the face that the leader must take. I wonder how I can make the leaders’ job easier.

• GOD wants me to respect the leader even if I don’t agree with their direction.
• GOD wants me to be creative with the leader because HE never wants me to hide my talent.
• GOD wants me to understand that HE appointed the leader and any criticism of them is a criticism of HIM.

Some leadership styles are more difficult for me to serve under; however it is my responsibility to use my GOD given talents and abilities to their fullest.  GOD appoints leaders and my complaints to HIM are about HIS decision of appointing this person to their post. Every complaint is heard and noted.

I must respect GOD’s decision and ask HIM for help when I don’t feel like following the appointed person.

• Is there a leader that you have complained about?
• Do you think GOD is excited about your complaints or actions?
• Are you performing up to your best when the leader isn’t acting like a leader?

Leaders keep leading!

Numbers 17: ⁴ “Put the staffs in the Tent of Meeting. Place them in front of the ark where the tablets of the covenant are kept. That is where I meet with you. ⁵ The staff that belongs to the man I choose will begin to grow new shoots. The people of Israel are never happy with what you do. I will put an end to what they are saying.”

⁶ So Moses spoke to the people of Israel. Their leaders gave him 12 wooden staffs. They gave one for the leader of each of Israel’s tribes. Aaron’s staff was among them. ⁷ Moses put the staffs in front of the Lord in the tent where the tablets of the covenant were kept.

⁸ The next day Moses entered the tent. He looked at Aaron’s staff. It stood for the tribe of Levi. Moses saw that it had not only begun to grow new shoots. It had also produced buds and flowers and almonds.

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Upon arrival I was met at the door with urgent news about whatever situation was going on at the time. When I got up to my desk there were a number of voicemails expressing dissatisfaction with the problem of the day. After a number of calls, messages and speeches I put the fires out.

Then someone walked in my office and complained about where their desk was located and how I had not addressed the situation. I stayed at work longer to put a move plan together. After their move the person complained about something else. I almost fired that person but kept my cool.

• There are some who I will never please.
• There are some who will always have a problem with me.
• There are some who will complain at the drop of a hat rather than developing solutions.

All I have to say is “GOD sees my efforts.” At times it is difficult to lead a group of complainers because the freedom to develop solutions isn’t involved. As a leader I cannot fall prey to their complaints nor can I be a victim. GOD wants something different.

• GOD wants me to follow HIS lead.
• GOD wants me to let HIM clear my path.
• GOD wants me to allow HIM to work out the situation.

GOD ALWAYS has the final word. HE said HE would “put an end” to Moses situation and HE always has done the same for me.

• Are you facing a mountain of complaints?
• Are you trying to lead a group of people who are not providing solutions?
• Can you stop trying to please people and start pleasing GOD?
• Won’t you ask the LORD for wisdom on how to lead through difficult times?

Live free but show respect

1 Peter 2: ¹⁶ Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. ¹⁷ Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

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“How did this idiot get picked over me” I thought to myself. I mean He has no skills, doesn’t know what I know and definitely doesn’t have the best interest of others in mind. “I” could do better if “I” were the boss.

• Sometimes arrogance causes me to think more highly of myself.
• Sometimes I use my salvation to do whatever evil I want and I say “well I’m saved so I’m forgiven.”
• Sometimes my lack of respect for leaders makes me look like a complainer rather than a person of love.

This statement hit hard.  I mean how am I to show “everyone” respect? What about people who don’t like me or better yet what about people I don’t like? What if I feel that my leader is an idiot? GOD thinks differently.

• GOD says honor those in authority because I have to consciously remove my arrogance.
• GOD says expose my evil and never let salvation be a freedom to blatantly keep sinning.
• GOD says fear only HIM for HE is the only one who can destroy the soul.
• GOD says love those who love HIM even when they are difficult to love.

I must realize that “every” human is GOD’s human and I must show them respect. Yes, I will sin but my efforts must be on holiness rather than giving up to get my way.

• Are you blatantly living the way you want and are not pleasing to GOD?
• Do you honestly believe the way you speak about “that” person is respectful to GOD?

Can you submit yourself to your leaders and change your mind set to think more highly of them than yourself?

Respecting Leaders

Romans 13: ¹Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

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Death number two had come within the span of one year and while everyone mourned, I could see people positioning themselves to take on their responsibilities. When the new CEO was announced the ripple effect throughout the company was greatly felt. I got a new boss and I really did not like this guy.

“How can we take this guy down?” wasn’t said but it showed in our actions.

• When I disrespect leaders I am really trying to escalate my opinion.
• When I drag my feet trying to create inertia I am actually trying to make the leader fail.
• When I complain about the leader I complain about GOD’s decision.

Sometimes the leader who was placed above me wasn’t as talented or moral as the last but they were placed over me for a reason.  My responsibility to that leader is to make them look as good as possible while continuing to maintain my integrity.

• I can still have ambition to become a leader, but until GOD raises me up I should serve with fervor.
• I can still desire to have a boss who thinks like me, but until GOD delivers that person I should learn to work with a person who has a different opinion.
• I can still like to have the work done towards my standards, but until GOD changes everyone’s mind I should work with the consensus of the group.

Politics, jobs, school teams and households all have leaders who don’t do their jobs well. GOD has placed people in authority as HE saw fit and these people require my full respect as an act of worship to GOD. HE will hold the person HE puts in place accountable.

• Are you balking about a new boss or political figure?
• Can you use the words you think and say about “that” person on yourself?
• Are your actions honorable towards “that” person?
• Will you continue to do your best even if “that” person is difficult?

Bad Bosses and Bullies

Romans 12: ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

   “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

   if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

 ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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Over the years I have had some great bosses and some not so great bosses. One in particular was always snooping around my desk when I was out of the office.  I had no idea what he was looking for so I planted some bad ideas and false information. He used this information and got in trouble. It felt good until I was dragged into the mess.

Maybe I should have just communicated with him in the first place.

• I will continue to run into bosses, peers and employees who don’t have my best interest in mind.
• I will continue to run into people who will do anything to get their way.
• I will continue to run into those who will take me down just for the fun of it.

I got tired of being bullied and decided to fight back and during each battle someone lost. Being a fighter is what I had become and that’s not where GOD wanted me to be.

• “Vengeance is mine” says GOD because HE doesn’t want anyone to harm me or them.
• “I will repay” say GOD because HE wants to give the oppressor ample opportunity to change their ways.
• “Feed your enemy” says GOD because HE wants to show HIS mercy to all.
• “Give your enemy something to drink” says GOD because HIS grace is complete so serve a complete meal, drinks included.

Well, I didn’t read that I should “feel” like doing all of the above, it just says do it.  The more I serve my enemies the better I become at serving from the heart. GOD’s message to me is “put evil in its place by doing what is right.”

• Is someone bullying you?
• Do you seek revenge on “that” person?
• Can you “leave room for GOD’s wrath?”
• Will you let GOD’s vengeance fall on that person while you show him or her love?
• Can you find it within yourself to do what is right in GOD’s eyes instead of doing what feels good?