The Presbyter's Page
Electronic Edition – June 2002
Original articles published March 1996
Section 12 - LA
District UPCI
Donald Bryan - Presbyter
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Sermon Thought: “When
You've Been Cheated"
Everything A
Leader Ought To Know
Sermon Thought:
“When
You’ve Been Cheated”
Genesis 29:31-35
"And when the LORD saw that Leah was
hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name
Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now
therefore my husband will love me. And
she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that
I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name
Simeon. And she conceived again, and
bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because
I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. And she conceived again, and bare a son: and
she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and
left bearing." -- Genesis 29:31-35 (KJV)
{The meaning of Leah’s son’s names: Reuben – “Behold a son”, Simeon – “Hearing”, Levi – “Joined”, Judah – “Let Him (God) be Praised.”}
In a Gallup survey, people said that the most aggravating little problem that happens on a daily basis was to lose money in a drink machine. Why? Because when we put something in, we want something out. No one wants to be cheated, but all of us have. Life has handed everyone at times leanness and disappointment. You may have been cheated of companionships, children, job or victory.
In the text, Jacob loved Rachel, but not Leah. Leah did everything right, but could not receive Jacob’s love. Imagine her anguish of living in the same household with Jacob and Rachel. She worked hard, was faithful and produced sons, but she was unloved.
Regardless of the hardships we have faced, the life we return to God at death can be full of praise or misery and complaint. Leah’s desires were for her husband. Each son was produced to make Jacob love her. But when the forth son was born, Leah declared, “this time, I will praise the Lord.” She changed her focus.
Sometimes the only answer in life is to change your focus off of what you’ve been cheated of and put it on God. The key to a wonderful life is to choose your desires carefully. “Delight yourself in the Lord,” Psalms 37:4.
What happened to Leah? Obviously as the years passed, Leah’s love shown through and Jacob loved her. Leah was buried with Jacob in the family tomb, (Genesis 49:29-31) while Rachel was buried “in the way.” God changed Leah’s situation because she changed her focus.
Reflections on Leadership
1.
People do what people see. They forgot my sermons, but followed my footsteps.
2.
Leading others takes courage. Knowing the right decision is usually easy. Making the right decision is hard.
3.
Hurting people hurt other people. Once I learned this, it was easier to “turn
the other cheek.”
4.
A leader can’t lead people if he needs people. A co-dependent relationship seldom grows of
moves forward.
5.
The leader’s growth determines the people’s growth. My happiest moments have been when both my
people and I were growing.
6.
It’s lonely at the top… so a leader had better know why he’s
there.
7.
It’s wonderful when the people believe in their
leader. It’s more wonderful when the
leader believes in his people.
8.
Leadership functions on the basis of trust. When trust is gone, the leader soon will be.
9.
People buy into the leader before they buy into the
leader’s vision. Leaders must sell
themselves.
10.
Admit failures quickly and humbly. The people already know them, but they
appreciate a right spirit.
11.
People become like their leader. I teach what I know, but I reproduce what I am.
12.
People are the only appreciable asset.
13.
Problems are not my problems. It’s not what happens to me but what happens in me that matters.
14.
Respect is vital to a leader. Without it, no one follows.
Title or position will not help it.
With it, everyone follows, and titles or positions are not needed.
15. The closest to the leader determine his level of success or failure. Mentoring potential leaders insures the leader and the organization of reaching their potential.
16. Leading people is a responsibility, not a perk. To whomever much is given, much is required.
17. Success is not having a national ministry or a large church. Success is obeying God. It is having those closest to me love and respect me the most.
18. Jesus is my friend. At times I have failed people. At times people have failed me. Jesus never fails.
--Dr. John Maxwell
Everything a Leader Ought To
Know
1.
Some people will tell you it doesn’t matter if you visit certain
shut-ins. Watch these people, they will
lie about other things as well.
2.
When you get the call at tem in the morning, and they ask, “Did I wake
you, Pastor?” resist the temptation for a cute remark.
3.
Don’t put people on committees to shut them up – unless it is a
committee without real power or function.
There should be several of those.
4.
If you make a pastoral visit and on one is home, leave a card or
note. They will appreciate your effort.
5.
Don’t spend more time trying to activate inactive members than you do
looking for new members.
6.
Call ahead on hospital visits because they sometimes discharge
surprisingly early.
7.
Someone will compliment any sermon.
8.
If you have staff, let them do their job.
9.
Most people who get angry with you aren’t. They’re mad at God and life.
10.
If you are asked to speak in public outside your church, cut out five
to ten minutes of the time you think you should take.
11.
Don’t expect to be treated fairly in the ministry. No one else is.
12.
Never use your last sermon to settle the score. It won’t.
13.
Never go to a hastily called board or deacon’s meeting without a
friend.
14.
Sometimes
victory is yours not because of your brilliant rhetoric or convincing argument,
but simply surviving the battle.
--Leadership (Winter 1996)
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