Pastor’s Desk June 4th

Scripture Passage: “For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.”  II Corinthians 10:10

Dear Friends,

      There is a huge difference in a leader and a boss.  A leader will get sown in the ditch with you, while a boss stands on the bank and barks orders.  Some people criticize a leader’s meekness and patience and often equate that with a lack of production.  Others praise a person with a dictator personality and equate that with, “A man who gets the job done.”  If you really want to know what kind of leader a person is, ask the man in the ditch.  He KNOWS!

      I came across an article the other day by one of my favorite Bible scholars that addresses this very issue.  Warren Wiersbe wrote a description of London’s department store giant H. Gordon Selfridge.  Mr. Selfridge claimed the key to his success was because he was a leader and not a boss.  The leader says, “Let’s go!” while the boss says, “Go!”  The boss KNOWS how it is done, but the leader SHOWS how it is done.  The boss inspires fear; the leader inspires enthusiasm based on respect and goodwill.  The boss fixes the BLAME for the breakdown, while the true leader FIXES the breakdown.  The boss keeps saying, “I,” while the leaders says, “We.” Mr. Selfridge’s philosophy of management would certainly agree with the Apostle Paul’s philosophy of leadership. 

     Paul’s enemies in Corinth were extremely critical of him.  They questioned his leadership, his integrity, and his authority.  They were not mature or astute enough to recognize that position and power are no evidence of authority.  In preparing for my children’s sermon for VBS, I researched what is known about the physical description of the Apostle Paul.  The Bible itself does not tell us, but a letter surviving into the second century describes him as: short of stature, bald, hook nosed, and bow legged. The Corinthian’s describe him as a writer of powerful letters, but having a weak physical appearance and unimpressive speaking skills.  They valued highly rhetoric and impressive oratory skills.  Apparently he had neither.  He just spoke the truth and seasoned it with love.  His appearance was affected by the many beatings, stoning’s, and shipwrecks he experienced.  He may have been small of stature, but he was “A giant of a man.”  The true measure of greatness is the heart of a man and his relationship with the Lord.  A leader does not use his authority to DEMAND respect, his actions COMMAND respect.  One is given, the other is earned.  Which one would you rather follow? 

In Christ,

Pastor Johnny


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