I am convinced that not everybody has the ability to lead. Yea, I am thoroughly persuaded of this. Look, just because you’ve been called to minister, it doesn’t mean you are called to Pastor. Just because you have a degree behind your name, it doesn’t mean you have what it takes to be a leader. Just because you have the experience, it doesn’t mean you are qualified to be a manager. Being in a leadership position takes a lot more than just the experience on paper, it takes preparation. You have to be able to deal with 100 different types of personalities (especially when some folk have 2-3 themselves). You have to be able to give helpful criticism and not your fleshly thoughts. You have to be able to take yourself out of the equation because it’s not about you, all the time. You have to be able to resolve conflict without it getting blown out of proportion. And most of all, you have to be able to shut up and keep some stuff to yourself! Not everything said to you is repeatable. Not everything shared with you is sharable. Being a leader is much more than having a title. It means you may have some longer days and some hard nights. It means you may get more phone calls and text messages than you like. It means you may have to visit the hospital, checking on folk, more than you’d wish. It means you may have to be the one to deliver bad news. It means you may be the one folk look up to, so you have to govern yourself accordingly. It means, again, it won’t always be about you. Oh, it may not always pay well either. Will you be alright with that?
The bible says in Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Beloved, you have to love what you do. Regardless of the pay or even the stress level sometime, you have to want to do it. 1 Timothy 3:1 says, “Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.” Now get this, an overseer is defined as a person who supervises others, especially workers. So when I share this scripture, I’m not just speaking in the church. This is why you have to be prepared for the position. Then you have to be careful the role you seek to fill, especially if you aren’t ready because the bible says whoever aspires to be an overseer is yearning for a worthy assignment. But get this … It won’t always seem worth it. Can you handle it? Chile, the worst thing an “overseer” can do is get into a position and then ruin the morale of the people he/she is overseeing. That’s why you have to be respectable (decent), hospitable (friendly), self-controlled (put together), with thick skin, able to teach and teachable. And before you seek a role, look into your spouse to ensure they are able to handle it. Not everyone is capable of handling the role of “First lady/man” or even the role of being married to a leader, no matter the position. It’s hard work that might pay off with man but it’ll definitely pay off with God.
Lakisha, the Author 