Ezra 8:33 (ESV)
[33] On the fourth day, within the house of our God, the silver and
the gold and the vessels were weighed into the hands of Meremoth the priest,
son of Uriah, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them were
the Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui.
Over
the past few days we have discussed the fact that servant leaders do not demand
that people follow them. They are followed willingly. Servant leaders do not act
impulsively. They lead patiently with wisdom, discernment, and humility. Servant
leaders point people toward God, not toward themselves. They are not interested
in gaining a following, but in seeing people follow God. Servant leaders protect
those they lead by establishing systems of accountability and submitting themselves
to accountability. Finally, servant leaders let go.
When
Ezra arrived in Jerusalem he did not insist in retaining control of the gold
and silver vessels. He weighed them into the hands of the priest. He then
passed on to the government officials in the area the instructions from the
King. The priests carried out the sacrifices. The government officials provided
whatever was needed. Ezra seems to step into the background.
Too
often leaders do not know how to let go. They do not know how to delegate. I
have watched leaders “delegate” a responsibility to someone only to then do the
job for them or tell them how to do it. The leader felt the need to retain
control and micromanage. Servant leaders understand how to pass responsibility
off to others and allow them to do their job. Insecure leaders feel the need to
remain in the limelight. Servant leaders do not need to be seen. Leaders that
feel insecure or insignificant feel the need to make sure everyone knows who
they are and what their credentials are. They feel the need to be seen at every
event. They need to control everything around them. Servant leaders serve.
What
should you look for in a pastor and in church leaders? A servant’s heart. A
leader who does not need to be acknowledged. A leader who understands and
practices delegation. A leader to does not micromanage, but encourages and equips,
and then steps out of the way. You need a servant leader. But a servant leader
is not one who does everything. A servant leader is one who gets out of the way
and lets the body be the body. A servant leader is one who knows how to let go.
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