Lessons From DeuteronomyPrøve

Good leaders delegate  It’s terrible to have a leader who doesn’t do anything. But the reverse is worse—a leader who won’t let go of anything. Why do people act like that? Maybe they have a control obsession. Maybe they’re insecure and need huge amounts of attention. Maybe they can’t trust anybody else. Maybe they think no one else can do it as well as they can. Maybe they are terrified that another person will do it better, that—gasp!—they aren’t needed anymore. Those leadership weaknesses hurt the larger group. They can stall the group’s growth and development. They cheat other people out of the chance to develop their own skills. You know, congregations are human organizations too, and they are not immune to the disease of bad leadership. Good leaders delegate. They respect and expect and inspect. They share, praise, and rebuke, just as Moses learned over three millennia ago: “How can I bear your problems and your burdens and your disputes all by myself? Choose some wise, understanding and respected men from each of your tribes, and I will set them over you” (Deuteronomy 1:12,13). Is it your blessing to serve with a good leader? Have you ever taken the time to thank and encourage him or her? Are you a leader? Do you find joy in lifting up other people to do jobs you used to do? Do you feed off the rush of being in charge, or have you cultivated the skill of making other people feel important?