SCRIPTURE: “Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:2-4 KJV)
QUOTE: “Leadership is a heavy burden that one man cannot carry alone. The leader needs his subordinates to share with him the burden. He needs burden bearers” – T. O. Banso
NOTE:
Leadership comes with certain burdens. For example, the Leader keeps pondering about how the organization he leads will move to the next level of growth. He ponders about how certain problems that are to be resolved and so on. However, it is important to note that one key leadership lesson that is consistent throughout the Scripture is that Leaders must not bear the burden alone! Great Leaders usually have a core team of leaders that bear the burden with them.
Sometimes wrong motives, ignorance, selfishness, greed, insecurity, and similar things may make a leader want to carry the burden alone. This is not smartness! It could lead to inefficiency, ineffectiveness, burnout, and even untimely death. The top leadership should not be involved in every matter, but be concerned with weighty matters which the subordinates cannot handle. No leader should assume he can do everything. The burden of leadership is heavy. Don’t try to carry it alone. Otherwise, you will wear yourself out and wear out the people you lead.
ILLUSTRATION:
“I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness. And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.”
REFLECTION:
As a leader do you bear the burden of leadership alone? 2. Do you have a core team of “burden bearers” around you?
TWO YEAR BIBLE READING: Numbers 11 – 12, Psalm 82