Are you working hard but forgetting to lead? (83-3)
Leaders are ultimately responsible for what happens within their organization. It is not enough to understand and be good at the work of an organization; if a person is to lead, they must also understand leadership. Read 1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22-25 and 3:11-14.
Eli served as both priest and judge in Israel. As judge Eli dispensed justice between opposing parties. As priest he oversaw and entire nation’s relationship with God. Eli had tremendous influence. People depended on him for their social, political and religious well-being. And every sign (almost every sign) in the Biblical narrative indicates that Eli took his job seriously.
In 1 Samuel 1:1-20 it appears Eli did not let his status as a leader go to his head. He showed up on the job everyday and even though his first impression was wrong when he saw Hannah praying (he thought she had been drinking), he was observant to see Hannah and he confronted her and he listened to her explanation and gave her advice. He must have been pretty good at his job as priest because “Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.” Eli did more than conduct the formalities of his office; he ministered to the people.
Eli was a good man. It is probably even accurate to say that he did his work well. But, as a leader, he was responsible for more than his own actions. Eli was also responsible for the conduct of the other priests. Eli succeeded as a priest but he failed as a leader. In failing to develop the priests who worked for him (actually for God), Eli failed to build an effective team and an effective organization.
The double tragedy in Eli’s case is that two of his sons were priests. Eli’s failure to lead created an environment where his sons could take unacceptable liberty with the requirements God had established for the temple. Eli’s sons were so evil that God pronounced a terrible judgment on Eli’s family line. Notice the distinction: God didn’t condemn Eli because he was a bad priest but because he was a poor leader of the other priests.
Leaders are ultimately responsible for what happens within their organizations. Being a good worker is required of every leader, being a competent worker is noble and commendable but if God has appointed you to a leadership role and you want to be an effective leader, then leadership also must be a big part of your focus. When a leader works through an organization, they can produce quality only by developing the people they lead. Take extreme care that in your leadership role you don’t give preference to your daily work over your role as a leader. Effective leaders understand their work and they understand leadership is a major part of that work.
When you face a tough situation in your leadership role, is your normal response to focus on the work or to focus on your leadership responsibilities? If you find solace and relieve stress by focusing exclusively on your work you may be moving toward a leadership crisis. Identify the last time you had a stressful leadership situation and ask God to help you clearly remember your response. Now ask God if that response was the response He desired you to have. If you pray asking God for wisdom, be prepared for His answer. It may not be what you expect.
