2 Tensions a Leader Must Manage

By Perry Noble, Christian Post Guest Columnist Monday, December 13, 2010

#1 – I Must Be Available to Everyone

I've said it before and I will say it again, the leader who is always available to everyone at all times is seldom available to God.

Too many pastors/church leaders have what is commonly known as "The Messiah complex"…they feel like they are the only ones who can meet with people, pray with the sick, solve the problems and do all of the counseling as well. (AND…in most cases I do NOT blame the people but rather the leader who has a need to be needed…who is more dependent on the people that he/she is the power and presence of God in their lives.)

I've heard it said before…and I will say it again, if you NEED people you can't LEAD people.

We cannot be available to everyone at all times…JESUS WASN'T! Luke 5:16 (as well as numerous other verses) talk about the fact that Jesus OFTEN sought solitude so that He could simply pray, reflect and focus on the Father…we've GOT to do the same if we are going to be leaders that IMPACT God's Kingdom.

#2 – I Can't Be Available to Anyone

The problem in many cases when we try to fight lie #1 is that the pendulum swings to the extreme opposite and we actually believe that the leader could not and should not ever be available to anyone…at anytime…for any reason. Thus the pastor/church leader becomes more of a king than a servant and completely loses touch with the people he is called to lead.

Jesus was the PERFECT model for this…if ANYONE had a packed and important agenda it was Him. He knew He had three years…He knew He had a job to do, and yet we see Him quite often in the Scriptures taking time to hang out with little children, heal the sick, have dinner with some "sinners" and have a conversation with a woman who had a pretty bad reputation (see John 4).

We've GOT to listen to the Holy Spirit on this one…we've GOT to allow HIM to shape our agenda…and, if our agenda NEVER includes the people we are called to serve…then there is a good possibility that we are pursuing our agenda, not His.

Perry Noble is the founding and senior pastor of NewSpring Church in South Carolina. The church averages 26,000 people during weekend services at multiple campuses throughout the state. Noble, his wife Lucretia and their daughter Charisse live in Anderson, South Carolina. You can read all of Perry's unfiltered thoughts about life and leadership at PerryNoble.com.