A Call to Servant LeadershipPrimjer

Situational Approach

Maybe you have a funny (or embarrassing) story about being ill equipped or under prepared for a race, exam, or event. Or maybe not, because you’re generally super prepared in any and every situation. In most arenas of life, our preparation influences our impact, and leadership is no different. It helps to understand what it means to approach our leadership context with discernment and compassion, preparing effectively in order to lead successfully, so that those in our sphere of influence end up in the right place.

You’ll remember that Moses owed his strong leadership position to the weak position God’s people found themselves in, in Egypt. The people’s need necessitated Moses’ rise to leadership. Similarly, Nehemiah was distraught upon hearing about the shocking state of affairs in Jerusalem, so he stepped up to lead God’s people. Maybe you can relate to this leadership philosophy because you’ve been wounded – and galvanised – by injustice. You’ve stumbled into leadership because of a burning desire to change the position of God’s people.

When Jesus arrived in a particular town, He had compassion on the crowds there because they were ‘like sheep without a shepherd’ (Matthew 9:36). He was able to discern the people’s true condition, and then meet their actual spiritual and physical needs by inviting His disciples to minister to them. Perhaps you need to ask yourself if God is inviting you to join Him in taking people to the place He has purposed for them. If so, how are you preparing for this mission?

The story of God speaking to the boy Samuel illustrates that when God calls us, He isn’t yet sending us. There’s a gap between calling and sending, where preparation takes place. Our preparation will determine our impact and effectiveness. Begin praying that God would help you discern the context God is calling you into, before saying yes to a leadership opportunity.

Remember that a preparation period doesn’t change your leadership assignment, but it does change you, the leader. You probably know of leaders who took on positions of leadership for which they were under-prepared, perhaps even ending their careers at the top of organisations that were going nowhere. Poor preparation can have long-term repercussions. Again, your God-given leadership assignment remains the same regardless of your level of preparation, but none of us wants to live with the inevitable regret of stepping into a leadership space presumptuously or prematurely or without sound theological training.

As a leader, you’re called into a specific context, and effective leadership involves discerning the details of that context. How long have you spent praying for the people you’re preaching to? How long have you spent understanding their condition? Most importantly, do you understand where God wants to take them, and have you shaped your message to them accordingly? May God transform you into a leader bent on transforming others so they might fulfil their destiny.