Are you an encouraging leader? If you’re not sure, compare yourself to Joshua in this passage from Joshua chapter 17. In this chapter the scenario goes something like this:
Step 1 – Joshua has led the people to great victories and given them land of their own – the promise of God.
Step 2 – The people complain that the land is not good enough for them:
14 Then the children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, “Why have you given us only one lot and one share to inherit, since we are a great people, inasmuch as the Lord has blessed us until now?”
Step 3 – Joshua responds and tells the people that if they are so great, they should go and take the land they want from their enemies (feel the sarcasm):
15 So Joshua answered them, “If you are a great people, then go up to the forest country and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the giants, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you.”
Step 4 – The people respond to this and say “well wait a minute – those guys are strong, we can’t handle it on our own! I mean, that’s not what we meant Joshua! Come on, man!”:
16 But the children of Joseph said, “The mountain country is not enough for us; and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both those who are of Beth Shean and its towns and those who are of the Valley of Jezreel.”
Now – stop. What would your “Step 5” be?
I know what most of us would initially be thinking, myself included – “you guys had better figure it out, because I’m not helping you. I already did my part and you guys are ungrateful.”
But Joshua doesn’t do that. Instead, he encourages them:
17 And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—saying, “You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have only one [f]lot, 18 but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and are strong.”
A leader strengthens the faith of his followers by exhibiting his own.
Joshua exemplified this. He was not personally offended by their complaining. Instead, he saw it as an opportunity.
If someone that is following you has a poor outlook or weak faith, don’t give up on them. View it as a discipleship opportunity to challenge them and help them grow.
Christ in the House of Martha and Mary by Diego Velázquez (1618)
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42
So here we have Martha the doer and Mary the hearer. The question is – is Jesus saying that one is right and one is wrong?
Did Jesus say that Martha was wrong for serving? No. Serving is not wrong, in fact Jesus teaches us to serve throughout Scripture.
It’s important to consider each word in Scripture when you study. Jesus said that Martha was “distracted with much serving” or in other words, “anxious with a lot of ministry”.
The idea is that she had too much to do. Why was it too much? Because she did not have time for the Lord.
He was teaching her (and us) that she was out of balance. Her priorities were not in order. She was not focused at all on Jesus and His teachings.
It is possible to be in ministry and serving the Lord, and be so busy that you do not have time for the Lord. That is when you are too busy! You are out of balance.
Have you ever been out of balance? I have!
Instead, we should strive to find the right balance – the balance of hearing and doing. It is not either/or. It is both/and. It is not choose one over the other. It is choose both!
Warren Wiersbe said that we should imitate Martha in our service and Mary in our worship.
Do not be a hearer only. But also, do not be a doer only. Both of these extremes are out of balance!
He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20
The company we keep is important. The friends we have influence us in one direction or the other. We must have discernment in our social relationships, a vital area of family vision.
Parents, for your children, You ARE their discernment while they are still young. That is your job as a parent.
Part of developing healthy social relationships is the development of social skill. These skills are so important as children become young adults and then become adults seeking employment. People with good social skills, who know how to wisely, correctly treat others and build relationships, go much farther and faster than adults who do not know how to interact well with others.
Studies from the Carnegie Institute of Technology revealed that 15% of success in a career is the skill/expertise/technical knowledge, while 85% is due to skill in relationships – personality and the ability to relate to and lead other people. (Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People)
A family with vision will work to build wise, healthy relationships and the skills that go along with them.
As part of inventing the future of your family, have a vision for your social health! Do not just think about what is now – think about what could be in the future! Work to cultivate wise, healthy relationships with those around you.
Onesimus was a slave and servant of Philemon. He had run away from Philemon and evidentally robbed him in the process. This runaway slave came into contact with the Apostle Paul and through Paul’s witness, trusted in Christ. An incredible divine appointment!
So Paul is writing his letter, which we know as the book of Philemon in the Bible, to address the situation. He is informing Philemon that he is sending Onesimus back to him.
I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus Philemon 4-6
In times of difficulty, we can get distracted from our true priorities. Paul prayed that during this challenging time, Philemon would do some specific things, and they apply to us as well.
How to Live with Purpose in Difficult Times:
1 – Grow in Our Knowledge of Christ
“Acknowledgement” in the verses above means a deep or true understanding.
The more fully we understand the blessings we have in Christ, the more willing we are to share Him with others.
In times of crisis, there is often more “free time” as a result. Whether a natural disaster, social unrest, or health pandemic, crises often create margin for people that they are not accustomed to while waiting for the situation to pass.
So use this extra time to grow closer to the Lord!
2 – Grow in Our Witness for Christ
Even in times of trouble, we should be focused on sharing our faith. Don’t let a crisis distract you from telling others about Christ!
Has salvation become any less important during times of crisis? Of course not! In fact, more people are thinking about life and death, more people are experiencing fear, more people are looking for hope.
Look for divine opportunities to share Christ even during a crisis time.
Doing these two things will give purpose to difficult seasons in life.
