Bible Stories For Big Kids
  • Home
  • Introduction
  • About Karina
  • Cover Art
  • Media
  • Blog
  • Store
  • Connect
  • Sample Story

LEADERSHIP? GOOD OR NOT SO GOOD

9/29/2021

0 Comments

 
A friend recently watched a documentary on the life of Jesus and  commented on the poor quality of Jesus' leadership skills. As this friend is proficient in leadership qualities he described Jesus as being distant towards his disciples and failing to 'keep them in the loop'; not a clear communicator, and not always readily available to his disciples, people who were being trained to carry on Jesus' work, when Jesus was no longer there.

What was Jesus' problem? On thinking about this, yes, Jesus was not always clear in his words and actions, but why? Did Jesus really have a problem, or are we looking at this from the wrong angle?

Assuming that Jesus was perfect as he claimed to be, then this must not be a shortcoming of his. I recently wrote a note to myself, stating that if you think you have God all worked out, then think again and I apply that thought to this topic. 

Jesus was teaching his disciples how to teach others about Jesus the Messiah, but he was also teaching them to have faith in him, and not rely on him. A contradiction? Certainly, but let me explain. Some leaders have an ego which needs
constant stroking and want to have their followers dependent, not independent. Jesus had no such ego - he just wanted his disciples' trust leading to complete faith in him so they would be able to stand on their own, knowing that God would help them and never leave them. Jesus gave them  room to question what they did not understand and encouraged them to think through what Jesus was teaching, so as to be able to stand on their own when Jesus was no longer physically there. 

As a parent, I saw my role as guiding and helping our children to mature  and become independent of me but at the same time, I was there for them when needed
( I hope!) In the same way, Jesus' 'questionable' leadership skills were ensuring that the disciples knew that they could trust him while at the same time, not depending on his physical presence alone.

There are many faith stories but one which I really like is of George Mueller, a British evangelist in the Victorian era, who established orphanages for hundreds of children. His was a 'faith mission' with no assured income, yet one story reads that one day the children were ready for school, said Grace for breakfast but there was no food for them to eat. It just so happened that at the same time, a food cart broke down outside that orphanage and to prevent the food from going to waste, the driver gave it to the orphanage to give to the children. Now that to me is faith and I think that was what Jesus was teaching the disciples - total faith in him, not a warm fuzzy good feel while Jesus was around.

With (usually) a full pantry and freezer, in today's world we may not have to exercise the faith of George Mueller when it comes to mealtime, but Jesus is calling us to have faith in him - a complete trust that he really is capable and worthy of that trust. With the benefit of hindsight, I can thank God for his care of me, even when I did not realise it at the time and from these experiences, I know that I can trust God today and in the future.

My faith in God is based on previous experience - I know I can trust him-  and I think that is what Jesus was teaching his disciples -  giving them  knowledge and  experience to know that faith in him was for real. Maybe Jesus' leadership skills might not pass today's 'pub test' but whatever he did, his disciples were faithful to his teachings. 

Isn't that the best outcome for a leader?

​ 




0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    I have always loved telling Bible stories, especially those from the Old Testament. For the past 25 years I have been teaching Religious Education in the local State School.  Each time I revisit these stories, I still find there's something more for me to learn. That's what I find so refreshing about the bible. 

    Karina Shim, Author
    Bible Stories For Big Kids

    Archives

    May 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.