It’s common for leaders to complain about not having enough help. Some wish they had a staff or a team of leaders. This is most critical during times of transitions, when people in leadership or ministry positions move away to other locations.
So it’s always a good idea to keep a backup of leaders. For every area of ministry and at every level, keep building new leaders. One is never enough. Create such a culture where all the leaders raise up other leaders.
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With all the current experts in leadership, management and business, we might think these are new concepts. But you may be surprised to know that these practices were prevalent in ancient times as well. Read this record from a few thousand years ago and observe the text in bold to identify the various organizational levels.
“These are the records of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the testimony, as they were recorded at the commandment of Moses, the responsibility of the Levites under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord commanded Moses: and with him was Oholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver and designer and embroider in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen” (Exo 38:21-23).
Leadership: Commandment of Moses
Management: Responsibility of the Levites
Administration: Direction of Ithamar
Production: Made all that the Lord commanded Moses
Sure, there are various ways to look at organizational management levels, but the text in Exodus is clear that they had a very clear form of order.
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It’s interesting to notice the throw away culture that has developed in the western countries and now is spreading to other nations as well. Most items are used and thrown away without being re-used or re-filled. Some items could be used longer. But we discard them with some product left in them.
The opposite can also be a problem. Holding on and holding things longer can be the sign of a hoarding problem. Keeping items for another few uses or some day when you need it can be a problem. After some time, every room will be full of items you don’t use, but someday “it might come in handy.”
There is a deeper issue here.
Remember.“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matt 6:26)
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For a group of former slaves, gold is quite an expense! Even though they looted the Egyptians before they left, the cost would be much. Actually, when this group “plundered the Egyptians” and got the gold into their hands, it would be quite difficult to let go.
So I go back to the question in the beginning: Why gold? Why was so much gold used in furnishing the Tabernacle where God dwelt? I understand two factors here.
First, they wanted to express the value they placed on God’s presence. They understood the Tabernacle as the place where the actual presence of God dwelt. Thus they placed so much value on his presence that they were willing to spend their most valuable possessions. I’m sure everyone did not give. Only those who valued God’s presence so much.
Second, God wanted them to part with material things that gave them a false sense of security. God is their only security.
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Irritation stemming from unmet expectations are a sure recipe for anger. But why should your expectations be met according to your desires? Unfortunately, expectations become the primary measure in our relationships.
But what if our relationships were not based on our expectations? What if the basis or focus of our relationship shifted from our expectations to something else? What would that something else be?
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I’ve heard it said from some highly skilled musicians and athletes that the cause of their success should be attributed to 10% talent and 90% hard work. You might have heard a different numbering pattern, but the same idea is prevalent. Talent is within the person, and that is God-given. But it is up to the individual to work that out through practice and persistence.
In the book of Exodus while the tabernacle was being constructed, craftsmen with various skills stepped up to do the work. This is what the text says: “…every craftsman in whose mind the Lord had put skill.” Although the text may not have intended to say this, I want to bring out the truth that the skill is in the mind. It is our job to work it out with our hands through contstant practice, learning, and persistence.
Work it out.
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Only a few will step up and share the load of leadership. There won’t be many who want to put aside their schedules and suffer the consequences of taking the lead.
But there are many who’ll say that they would like to come. They say things like: “Go ahead and set it up, and I’ll show up if I have the time.”
The trailblazers get ignited with only a spark. They jump at the opportunity of a new vision. Of course, they’re trailblazers.
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I don’t like to beg. Asking people to give is sometimes like drawing blood. It’s hard to convince people to part with their possessions.
When the tabernacle was being built, Moses asked the people to bring contributions. But we have to remember that these people only had a limited supply of possessions and no opportunity to earn more. But those who gave were moved from within.“And they came, everyone whose hearts stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the Lord’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for its service, and for the holy garments.” (Exo 35:21)
So the better option is to allow their hearts to be stirred and their spirits to be moved.
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The natural response may be to retaliate. You may feel like you have every right to get back at them. You may be one of the factors why they are alive today. You may have had a significant role in their marriage being rescued from disaster. So in one sense, you have every right to retaliate in a similar fashion as they treated you.
But. What do you want to spread? Do you want to spread hatred, animosity, and an attitude of retaliation within your organization? Or, would you prefer to spread forgiveness, mutual understanding and mutual respect? It’s your choice. You are the leader.
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The need to be accepted and to be part of the group cannot be ignored. In fact, we’ll do anything to be accepted. We’ll even become (or try to be) something that we are not, just to be accepted.
This internal need for acceptance fits well with the demand for conformity in all groups. For many groups, community is defined by conformity. Exceptions are rare and come with an expectation to conform as quickly as possible.
Now, God also has a standard. His is a standard of holiness that we may never be able to attain on our own. But God wants us anyway. Just because we are his creation – his inheritance. This was Moses’ response to the merciful God:“…If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord to in the midst of us for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.” (Exo 34:9)
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