As Christian leaders, we often feel alone. We sit behind our computers and write, study God’s Word looking for direction and watch our budgets and pinch the pennies. Alone. But God clearly did not intend for us to do this alone. In this Episode, we are continuing our Success Foundations series by examining the four people we need around us.
1. The Partner: When God came calling at the burning bush, Moses gave Him a long list of excuses and limitations. God gave Moses a partner in Aaron. Aaron filled a specific gap for Moses. A partner does not necessarily have to be part of the day-to-day operations and activities. It can be an accountability partner, a critique partner or someone that you collaborate with regularly.
2. The Mentor: We all need someone who is a few steps ahead of us who will share their experiences and wisdom. Moses had his father-in-law, Jethro. In Exodus 18, Jethro displayed the characteristics of a good mentor. They had a close personal relationship; Jethro was wise and stable and he was respectful of Moses’s position. He celebrated victories, and showed care and concern when he saw Moses in over his head. Jethro provided practical advice with an actionable plan, and then stepped back to let Moses lead.
3. The Apprentice: A good leader identifies and grows someone to take her place. Moses found such a person in Joshua. Joshua first shows up on the scene to lead the Israelites in a critical battle against Amalek (Exodus 17). But later references tell us that Joshua had been Moses’ aide “since his youth.” (Numbers 11:28) Moses had been pouring into Joshua for a long time. And when the time came, he was readily accepted by the Israelites as their new leader.
4. The Unsung Hero: Hur was a behind-the-scenes support guy. The one who took care of the little details that the flashier guys overlooked or didn’t have time for… who saw a problem or a need and took care of it, without making a big deal… who made Moses, Aaron and Joshua look good by making sure they had everything they needed. Every leader needs that kind of behind-the-scenes support. It may be a technical support person, a trusted virtual assistant, or a talented editor or proofreader.
Your work is too important to be limited by your talent and dedication alone. The fresh ideas, wise counsel and expertise that come from a partner, a mentor, an apprentice and an unsung hero could be just the thing you need to move forward.
ACTION STEP: Look at your ministry or business and identify these four important people. One person may be filling multiple roles, or you may be missing one entirely, and that’s okay. Now that you are aware, you can be on the lookout to fill that gap. On your social media, give a shoutout to your people and use the hashtag #justonesimplething. Follow the podcast on your favorite platform, or subscribe on my website so you don’t miss the rest of the series.
RESOURCES: More Than A Blog: Success Foundations –A six-module self-guided course to assess five key areas of your ministry or business, and discover a defined purpose, a clear path forward and the steps needed to reach your goals.
Book Recommendation: Start With Your People by Brian Dixon
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