#78 Thoughts from the Back Deck. Servant Leadership

More of my orchids are coming into bloom. Once a week, I take time to carefully water each plant. I am careful that I don't get water in the plant's stem and where the leaf grows out of it, because it will often rot and destroy the leaf. In Florida's, "winter season" I make sure each plant gets exposed to colder temps for a week or more, but careful not to be exposed to freezing temps. That cold exposure allows the plant to reset and assures the plant to bloom in the spring. Sometimes I need to re-pot the orchids. A bigger pot. A change in the medium the orchids are potted in is not an uncommon task. I don't spend hours on the orchids but I do consistently care for them. Being faithful to little things gives me a beautiful benefit, and I enjoy the long-lasting blooms!

As a pastor, I have had people come to me and express a desire to get involved. I try to listen and get a sense of a person's interests, spiritual gifts, talents, and abilities. People often work in careers or have vocations that are useful in God's Kingdom work. Being able to serve in God's kingdom is a wonderful blessing and opportunity for spiritual growth.

A few times, a new person to the fellowship, has come to me wanting to get involved. Great!! They are highly excited, and I would describe them as very eager. I give them multiple ways to serve and to begin to get involved and meet people. Time passes and they come back to me and have not engaged in any of the suggestions, not gotten to know anyone, but come and state they don't want to do any of those things suggested, they just want to lead. They want to be a youth leader. They want to be on the church leadership board. They want to be an "elder". 
That isn't easy. Why you ask? Leaders don't assume leadership; they serve. As they serve more opportunities to serve present themselves. It doesn't always work that way in the world but it is how God's Kingdom works. Jesus came to serve not to be served. This model is part of what it means to be a disciple... a follower of Jesus. 

Luke 16:10-ff
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

In the church this is sometimes referred to a being a "servant-leader". What a blessing it is to see the Holy Spirit work in and through a person as they grow in their faith and love of Jesus and their neighbor. It is a living example of loving the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls and strength and loving our neighbors as ourselves. 

However God calls us to serve, let each of us be faithful and do our best in the smallest of tasks as well as the largest of tasks. 

Peace out,
Pastor Andy

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