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The Miami Heat have received more praise, attention and focus for having done nothing than any team in history. The combination of Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and Lebron James brings with it the understanding that they will do something. As of now, they haven't done anything yet (in fact they lost their opening game last night).
As I thought on that yesterday, I couldn't help but think of how that translates to church leadership. Not that we are out trying to make "The Three Kings" or "The Big Three" in any of our churches, but the ways in which we allow potential to be worth more than actual work.
We've been sharing with our students from the book of Nehemiah over the past couple of months and chapters 2-3 were interesting to me. As Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem, he rallied the people to build. As it reads:
Nehemiah 2:18 (ESV)
18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
When we read further we see:
Nehemiah 3:5 (ESV)
5 And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.
Everyone signs up for big vision. Everyone signs up for potential.
"The wall is broken but we're going to fix it! We're going to become a valued city again! We're going to restore what is ours! We shouldn't have to be like this." That along with our best Howard Dean impression. The potential is there.
Then it comes building time. Some would not stoop to serve the Lord.
What happens if Dwayne Wade is hurt? What happens if Chris Bosh is hurt? What happens if Lebron James is hurt? What happens when they don't play well? What happens when they lose more games than they should? What happens when they don't win more than 72 games and aren't the Michael Jordan Bulls? We've put all this energy, effort and "decision" into something that hasn't happened yet.
Can we pride ourselves on an idea? Or do we pride ourselves on seeing that idea fulfilled. The greatest day in Nehemiah's life is not the vision in Babylon while working for the king. It's not the four months of praying and fasting for God to fulfill that vision. It's not his arrival in Jerusalem. It's not rallying the troops. It's not the building of the wall. It's the fulfillment of all those things:
As I thought on that yesterday, I couldn't help but think of how that translates to church leadership. Not that we are out trying to make "The Three Kings" or "The Big Three" in any of our churches, but the ways in which we allow potential to be worth more than actual work.
We've been sharing with our students from the book of Nehemiah over the past couple of months and chapters 2-3 were interesting to me. As Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem, he rallied the people to build. As it reads:
Nehemiah 2:18 (ESV)
18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
When we read further we see:
Nehemiah 3:5 (ESV)
5 And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.
Everyone signs up for big vision. Everyone signs up for potential.
"The wall is broken but we're going to fix it! We're going to become a valued city again! We're going to restore what is ours! We shouldn't have to be like this." That along with our best Howard Dean impression. The potential is there.
Then it comes building time. Some would not stoop to serve the Lord.
What happens if Dwayne Wade is hurt? What happens if Chris Bosh is hurt? What happens if Lebron James is hurt? What happens when they don't play well? What happens when they lose more games than they should? What happens when they don't win more than 72 games and aren't the Michael Jordan Bulls? We've put all this energy, effort and "decision" into something that hasn't happened yet.
Can we pride ourselves on an idea? Or do we pride ourselves on seeing that idea fulfilled. The greatest day in Nehemiah's life is not the vision in Babylon while working for the king. It's not the four months of praying and fasting for God to fulfill that vision. It's not his arrival in Jerusalem. It's not rallying the troops. It's not the building of the wall. It's the fulfillment of all those things:
Nehemiah 6:15–16 (ESV)
15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.
15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.
As church leaders, may we not pride ourselves on our potential "to do ...", but may we be those who receive an awesome vision from God to reach our city, appoint awesome people to come alongside us and may we see the awesome vision completed before our eyes.
If the Heat don't hold up a trophy at the end of the year. All this would have been for nothing. How does that apply to you?
If the Heat don't hold up a trophy at the end of the year. All this would have been for nothing. How does that apply to you?
