Jump Start # 4033
Joshua 1:5 “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.”
I read a report the other day that stated one half of all small businesses in America are owned by people aged 55+. And among that number more than one half (54%) do not have a succession plan. What that means, if the owner retires or passes away, there are no plans or steps as to who will run the company next. I have seen that in my community. A mom and pop store that has been around for decades suddenly closes. The owner died and no one knew how to keep the doors open or in many cases, no one in the family wanted anything to do with it. Just sell the place, take the money and run. When you think about those numbers, half of the small businesses in America are in that situation. No plans to pass the keys on to the next generation. No development of the next tier of leaders. The business simply dies with the owner.
That’s the picture of corporate America. I wonder what the numbers would be among our congregations today. What happens if the current leadership no longer is in the position to lead. Retirement and moving away. Transfers. Death. And, without people trained and ready, the church flounders. The church drifts. Error becomes a constant issue to deal with.
In our verse today, the passing of the baton had taken place. Moses was no more. Joshua was God’s chosen one. It would be Joshua who would take Israel into the promise land. It would be Joshua at the helm. God did not randomly pull Joshua’s name out of a hat. Long before this, Joshua was side by side with Moses. He was seeing. He was learning. He was being trained. And, when the time was right, it was a smooth transition. Joshua was ready. He was capable.
We can sure learn and borrow from that example when it comes to leaders in God’s church today. Much, much too often, very little is said or done about leadership until there is a crisis. A death and now the church panics because there may not be another person who can step up. The preacher rapidly rushes through a series of sermons about the qualifications of an elder, and certain men are begged, pleaded and pressured into stepping up and serving. Many have never given it any thought before this. Many don’t have a real clue as to what is involved. But, they do it, a man or two is appointed and everyone breathes a sigh of relief. Nothing again is said until the next crisis. And, for far too many congregations, this is the standard practice for generations.
We could do better. We must do better.
First, imagine teaching the high school class about the honor, value and importance of leading in God’s kingdom. Get the young men to see early in life before they make big life choices, such as career, marriage and family, about carving out a goal to serve in God’s kingdom. Get these young men out to eat with the current shepherds. Let them see. Let them ask questions. Begin long in advance.
Second, as a church, we ought to pray for our leaders and esteem them and appreciate them as the Thessalonians were taught to do. Could one reason why men run and hide when talk turns to looking for leaders because of the horror stories and back talk many have witnessed through the years. Such should not be tolerated. When leading is viewed honorably, and men are appreciated for what they do, more will see how wonderful it is to be considered by a congregation as ready to lead God’s people.
Third, fathers need to understand that they are leaders and shepherds, just like elders are in the church. Their flock happens to be their family. But, they do what elders in the church do. They nourish, protect, lead and care about their little flock. In time, if they have walked closely with the Lord and made wise choices, their flock will expand to include more, the church. Busy in the kingdom. Busy for the Lord.
Poor leadership and a lack of leadership has been the death of many congregations. No one at the helm to guide the church through troublesome times. People allowed to say and do anything without any accountability. Churches crashing upon the rocks of culture, while men who could serve won’t. Too busy, they say. Not interested, they say. Got more important things to do, they claim. And, the church drifts. Those with the loudest voice take over, often being guided by unspiritual people who are selfish and prideful.
I don’t know what the answer is to small businesses in America. Small stores may go out of business. Big corporations may buy out the mom and pop operations. But, for the church, without men stepping up to take on the role that God intended, many congregations may drift into error or cease to exist.
Legacy—who will take over after me? Is anything being done to develop, prepare and train? It’s time to start that.
Roger