Contributing Joy
As an associate to the senior leader for many years at Today’s Community Church, I have learned some invaluable lessons that I would like to pass on.
This verse I keep in close proximity to my heart and has admirably served me well over the years:
Hebrews 13:17 NIV
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Here’s a worthwhile question to ask:
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How can I best contribute to my Senior Leader:
Below are a few points that will be helpful to you and that I believe are worth considering:
1) Understand the Heart of your Leader
Recently I had a conversation over lunch with a recently retired CEO of a multi-million pound construction company. I recall one particular statement: ‘At CEO level it can be a lonely place.’
Every church leader who operates at senior level will to some degree associate with and understand this statement because they will have had some personal experience. At certain times in life and ministry they will conclusively feel a sense of loneliness & isolation even though leading a church is a unique challenge.
As Jesus followers, do we contribute to the pain or joy of the leader?
Or do we actively pray, invest, devote, give and dedicate our lives to understanding the leader’s heart?
Is your heart in close proximity to the leader’s heart?
2) Serve the King’s Interests
Daniel 6:2 NLT
The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the princes and to watch out for the king’s interests.
What a powerful verse, considering the appalling background of Daniel’s story and a less than ideal journey to this point. Despite his personal predicament there was something that God placed in Daniel's heart that rose above his present circumstance.
It was a heart to serve – whoever and whatever!
When you serve the King’s interests you contribute to the joy of their leadership. In kingdom life, serving is not an option; it isn’t a negotiable in church life, it is who we are as followers of Christ.
Whose interests are you serving?
3) Lead from the Strength of your Loyalty
Any senior leader will hopefully surround themselves with the right people who possess the right attributes and qualities - integrity, trust, gifting, wisdom, mental toughness and emotional intelligence are but a few.
I have learned that loyalty means different things to different people but I believe it is a crucial component that a senior leader values very highly. But it is inappropriate for them to ask for it, it is something earned and given. For those who are married, I’m sure your spouse would not take kindly to you constantly asking them for their loyalty. Loyalty comes out of a heart relationship to one another
Proverbs 3:3 MSG
Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart
Keep a firm grip on your loyalty - it will be tested! Passing the tests contributes to the joy of your leader.
Tony Harrington
Associate Leader