It was a quiet evening, nothing extraordinary. The sun had just begun to go down. It is almost 40 years ago now- but I still remember vividly. Not that I had meant to eavesdrop, but as I passed by the study room/office, the door was slightly open and I could hear my father’s voice a bit low but steady. I saw the other person, the young pastor newly assigned to assist my father in the ministry. He was listening attentively as Dad offered the kind of advice only years in the pastoral field could teach. What I heard that evening would stay with me for the rest of my life.
“Point these people to Christ and not to yourself“
As I began to grow in Christ, I discovered that this had been the principle which my dad lived by in ministry, and it is rooted in the understanding that the deepest transformation in the life of a genuine child of God comes from a living relationship with Christ.
Human relationships are vulnerable to disappointments, or change, but Jesus is constant, faithful, and unchanging. I am of a strong opinion that mentors and leaders should be honored and respected, “give honor to whom honor is due” so says the word of God but they are not to be seen as saviors because they are stewards! There should be a frown upon unhealthy dependence on an individual rather than God.
Paul said that I may decrease, and He may increase. It is dangerous to assume the position of God or to take center stage as a leader or mentor. Our Lord Jesus Christ is a perfect example of humility, when a rich young ruler addressed him as a good teacher, Jesus replied, “Why do you call me good”? No one is good except God alone – Mark 10:8 Jesus Christ, while he was here in the flesh, always deflected action from himself. His focus was to make the Father known and seen.
Sadly, many fall away from the faith, because they have their eyes fixed on man and not on God; when leaders who point people to themselves and not Christ make mistakes, their followership go down with them because the root is not in Christ. It is safe to say that only those whose faith is deep-seated in Christ will remain unshakable and avoid the pitfall of misplaced devotion.
When leaders assume the role of a savior in the lives of their followers, they risk raising shallow believers. These believers become dependent on human validation and personal spiritual maturity is obstructed. Offenses become frequent as corrections are taken personally rather than as opportunities for growth. Where focus is misplaced, unrealistic expectations and disappointments are not far-fetched. True discipleship points people upward!
Dear Christian leaders and mentors, let us strive to point people to Jesus and Jesus alone. My prayer is that at every point in time we will be able to sincerely say like David “Not unto us, oh Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory “. May our hearts always assume a posture of humility, our focus fixed on Jesus, and may He ALWAYS be the center of attraction as we lead!
May Grace be multiplied unto you
