As regular visitors to Team Swap know, a regular theme for us at Team Swap is leadership and responsibility. Our name alone - TEAM SWAP - tells every visitor that we are about Team building and Swapping lifestyles and support structures. (For a more complete explanation check out the FAQ portion of our contact page) The reason we focus so much on leadership and responsibility is that we feel that these are two key requirements for Christians at are routinely overlooked within the body. Many assume that leadership and responsibility are only things for those that lead and direct churches, but they are elements that should exist within the lives of all believers.
At various times, and in various places, we are all called to lead. The mere act of living for Christ requires us to be responsible to ourselves, others and God for our actions and activities. Taking that responsibility alone makes you a leader. We are to be examples of Christ while we are here, it only makes sense that we should take our example for living from Christ. Like Christ did, we must take the duties that are assigned to us seriously, and follow up the best we can on what we commit too. That does not mean we will accomplish all things, nor will we always succeed, but it does mean we should give it a 100% even if we fail. This note is in that vein of thought and we hope that it will both encourage and challenge you.
The key thought to this note is that the work of a leader, a path setter, i.e. the first in line, does not necessarily make the tasks or path that those that follow the leader easier. The leader’s path simply gives the followers hope that the next step is possible. Let us expand a bit on this, and hopefully there will be something in it for you our visitor.
Obviously, the leader has a great responsibility because they set the course or path for those that follow after them. Many times that also means that the leader has to clear the path, or at least set out the markers that define the path that their followers then traverse. This clearing and path marking is designed to make the follower’s trip or path easier. Just because the path is cleared a bit or marked the follower still has to cover the same ground and face the majority of the same obstacles that the leader faced. The difference is that the follower has the knowledge that completing the next step or phase is possible. That is because the leader has already completed that step. That also means that the follower should have the knowledge of the pitfalls and stumbling blocks that are in front of them. This knowledge comes from observing the warnings, markers and stumbles of the leader. The duties and requirements of the follower are made clearer solely because the leader has already set them by covering the ground the follower is currently on.
Obviously, the leader is not able to clear all the obstacles out of the path. At times it may not even be possible for the leader to clear enough area that the path is even clear. Regardless of the difficulty though, the follower does have a example or pattern to follow. In many ways it is like climbing Mt. Everest, it is still extremely difficult, but once Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay summited Everest the rest of the world knew that it is possible. All others that attempt Everest still have to complete the climb. They still have to cover the same ground, they still face many if not all of the same challenges, and the current climber may even face some things that Hillary did not face, yet they know that it is possible to ascend Everest as Hillary and Norgay did it.
Today, numerous others have completed the climb of Mt. Everest. So, those that attempt it now have the example of several path setters to follow before they even attempt to completed it. The ability to learn from those that precede them, when included with the knowledge that completion is possible, gives these new climbers hope when tough moments arise.
Sometimes people fail at completing Everest, a few even perish in the process, and some that fail may never attempt such a feat again because of their failure. However, most that fail, and live, return later to complete the climb. They do this because they know it is possible, and they do not want to be counted as among those that could not complete it. This possibility of personal failure in the light of others success is not acceptable to those that attempt great challenges. The drive inside of the majority that attempt such a climb will not let them become a statistic of failure. They want to be counted as one that completes great challenges. That motivation drives their return, and their eventual ascension of Everest.
Ministering in Christ is the same. The leader must go first, and they will either fail or succeed. The support of their followers (i.e. co-climbers, helpers, spiritual Sherpas, etc) has a large impact on which they will do, yet in the end the leader still has to be the one to take the next step. A key to leading is having the desire and drive to succeed, and the desire to have those that follow you succeed as well. The leader has to be the one that sets the path that others follow. Their helpers and their followers can not go where they have not been, yet once the leader has been there all that follow them know that the next step is possible.
The role of leader is not one that allows a person shrink at the first sign of defeat. Many times it may take numerous attempts for a vision or task to be completed, but once they have those failed attempts behind them completion is possible. The fact that a true follower knows success is possible will drive them (the follower) to complete the task that is set before them. This is due to their own desire to accomplish what is before them. This motivation comes from a combination of their own personal desire to succeed and the encouraging knowledge that success is possible due to the previous success of the leader.
Continuing this theme, we should all draw encouragement from Christ. He does not ask His followers to go anywhere that He has not been Himself. Our commitment to Him should drive us to not want to be counted as among those that shrink away from challenges. We should desire to be among those that want to be called successful. We should desire to conquer the challenges that we meet, and complete the tasks we are assigned. We are able to do this because we know that Christ has already accomplished all that He calls us to. We are never called to a task that He has not completed Himself. If we doubt success is even possible we always have Him to look to as a guide for what is possible. The combination of our desire to be successes in Christ, not for our glory mind you but for His glory, and the path to success set by Christ should give us both the drive and life path we need to accomplish all things.
Weather you realize it or not you are a leader in some area of your life. Maybe it is by position, or by personality, or by profession, but in some area you are a leader. It may be at home, at church, at work, in a organization, or somewhere else, but you are a leader somewhere and your success or failure impacts more then just yourself. Your leadership impacts all around you and it should both encourage and educate all those that follow after you. Some of your followers may be your immediate family, others may be friends, some may be church members, some may be neighbors, and some may be strangers that you do not know but that watch you. Regardless of who they are they follow after you and your leadership. Your leadership should encourage them to continue on the path that you have marked before them. Good and bad times will come and go, yet the successes of God and His people will remain forever. The Team Swap team wants you to know that we want to assist you in your leadership skills, and we desire to be a tool that will make you both a better and more successful leader. Never hesitate to contact us if we can be of service.
Have a great day serving God mightily.
