Responsible Leaders

Being a leader is never easy and accepting responsibility, even for the things that go wrong through no fault of your own, is harder yet. A weak leader allows his natural instincts to kick in, running to his own defense, rationalizing and developing a theme that makes him feel better about the whole situation, in many cases bring about some pretty nasty accusations toward other people. I’m a good organizer, but a weak leader at times. I do work hard at accepting things that tend to rub across my grain, but sometimes I’m just not willing to compromise my comfort level for the general overall good of my charge. Well, like I’ve said before, “Humble pie is best served still warm.” This past week I took the lead in getting all bent out of shape over what is amounting to be a lack of communication between my father and myself. Thinking things are running smoothly and being comfortable that all the right things were being done doesn’t mean the train still can’t jump the tracks. Truth and facts sometimes are hard to deal with, but deal with them we must, otherwise chaos develops and innuendoes fly. While I choke down my last piece of pie, I think maybe I’m a little better leader, recognizing once again through trial and error, if one takes on responsibilities, one must accept responsibility. It’s mine.
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law and their four-year-old son. The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred and his steps faltered. The family ate together at the table and the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon to the floor and milk spilled from his glass onto the tablecloth. The son and his wife soon became irritated with the messes. “We must do something”, said the son. “I’ve had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating and food on the floor.” So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner where the old man sat alone to eat. Because he had broken a dish or two, his food was now served in a wooden bowl. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food on the floor. The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper the father noticed his son playing with some wood scrapes on the floor and asked the child, “What are you making?” The boy sweetly replied, “Daddy, I’m making a little bowl for you and mommy to eat your food in when I grow up.” The four-year-old smiled innocently and went back to work.
[Isaiah 53: 4-7] Jesus is a great leader. I didn’t say was a great leader, because He still leads today. Jesus, the Word of God, (John 1:1-5) took on the responsibility of bringing the soul saving message of God’s will for man by taking on the form of a man and living upon the earth. (John 1: 14) At thirty years of age, Jesus began his ministry. God the Father spoke well of his leadership responsibilities. (Luke 3: 21-23) Think about this for a moment. Jesus had been living among sinful peoples, witnessing their evils desires and disgusting habits, yet was about to embark on a three year crusade to teach a better way to live, righteously, in love and harmony with everyone, pleasing God and proving to man there is life after death. Jesus is the way; Without His there is no going. Jesus is the truth; Without Him there is no knowing. Jesus is the life; Without Him there is no living. Jesus was tempted in every way, yet was without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) Jesus gave himself in total obedience to his responsibility as Savior of a lost world.