Ever had anyone get in your way?
Of course you have. We all have.
The most common instance is in driving, when you’re trying to get somewhere on time (or more often, just two minutes late instead of 5 or 10) and that slowpoke in the road just won’t go on.
Perhaps the worst offenders are those who take it upon themselves to make others obey the law. It’s like they’re on a one-man (or woman) crusade to make our highways safer by forcing everyone to abide by the speed limit. They get in that left lane, set the cruise control at the posted limit, and stay there – blocking traffic and almost daring anyone to do anything about it. It’s these drivers who have actually spurred some states to adopt laws against impeding the flow of traffic.
Yes, those slow-pokes – well-intentioned or not – in the fast lane need to keep right. But before we wave them over (or worse), perhaps we can learn a lesson from their bad example.
[Full disclosure: The author typically obeys posted limits (or at least stays close) and is also courteous enough to stay out of others’ way.]
This scenario can play out within a faith organization as well. Longevity can be admirable in church service, but longevity without frequent evaluation and introspection can result in the slow death of a spiritual ministry.
To put it bluntly, it’s one thing for Grandpa Smith to teach his Sunday School class for 50 years and do it well. It’s another when he’s taught the same lessons year after year with little in the way of results.
While it is true that apathy is a terrible problem for many modern churches, the flip side of the coin – its twin sin, if you will – is that many take up a mantle of service simply out of obligation. “If I don’t do this, no one else will” is their mantra. But such an attitude shows a terrible lack of faith.
If God wants a position filled, it follows that He must have exactly the right person in mind to fill it. Perhaps He simply doesn’t want to fill it for another week or two, for reasons known only to Him. If a well-meaning servant with no true passion for the office steps up, the end result could spell disaster not only for a work of ministry, but also for two individual believers – the one meant to be there and the one standing in the way.
Perhaps the most common mistake made by those working within a church organization is hanging on too long. You’ve done this job for 30 years. You’ve never failed to get it done. It’s yours. It has to be done the way you’ve done it. Anyone wishing to change the job or the way it’s done is a threat.
What do those five statements have in common?
They all come from a prideful perspective. And we all know what pride can do to a person, to a ministry, to a church organization, to a community, to mankind in general.
Don’t hang on too long. The work is far more important than you or your feelings or some meaningless number of years in service. Staying too long is like keeping milk in the fridge past its time. Yeah, you’ve got milk but what good is it really doing anyone?
Here are a few simple tips to avoid being in someone else’s way when it comes to serving God. Please note that these all come with the caveat that above all, anyone accepting a position of service must be constantly in prayer for guidance.
- When accepting a position for which you have no passion, do so with extreme caution. Even then, do it only when the organization MUST have someone right away, and accept it on a temporary basis. Set a specific date – say, three months – at which you’ll step down. That way the work gets done and the right person can still feel okay about stepping up when the time comes.
- If the work you’re doing isn’t reaping dividends, step back and take stock. Ask your pastor or other authority figure within the church structure to give you an honest assessment of how your ministry is going. If you still have a passion for it, try making some changes or improving your performance. If nothing you do makes a difference, walk away from it knowing you’ve done your best.
- You MUST have a passion for the work. If it’s become mundane and you can’t seem to get that passion back, get out before the inevitable crash destroys not only you and your joy, but also the ministry.
- Continually seek God’s desire for the ministry. It’s not yours; it’s not ours; it’s not theirs. IT’S HIS. If you’re continually seeking after what He wants in your work, you’ll know when the time comes to step aside.
- Don’t hang on just because you’re afraid the job won’t be done (or done right) without you.
Are you on a one-man (or woman) crusade to stay in your spot so that everyone else will act in accordance with your will? If so, then perhaps YOU are not acting in accordance with GOD’S will.
Maybe it’s time to step aside and trust that He has the right person just waiting for you to get out of their way.
