Do the Right Thing...For You

INTRODUCTION

OPENING STORY: I WAS YET AGAIN RUNNING THROUGH ANOTHER AIRPORT ANXIOUS TO MAKE MY CONNECTION AS I HAD AN EVENT TO SPEAK AT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY. AND YET WHEN I GOT THERE THE GATE WAS COMPLETELY PACKED WITH PEOPLE, ALL WERE SEATED AND NONE WERE STANDING IN LINE. WE SHOULD HAVE BOARDED BY NOW. EVEN MORE PERPLEXING WAS THAT OUR PLANE WAS AT THE GATE. I NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT WAS UP. SO I WENT TO THE GATE AGENT AND ASKED WHAT THE DELAY WAS. WITH A SERIOUS FACE SHE TOLD ME OUR CREW HAD GOTTEN IN REAL LATE THE NIGHT OR I SHOULD SAY THIS MORNING, AND HOW FEDERAL REGULATIONS DEMAND THAT FLIGHT CREWS GET A REST PERIOD OF TEN HOURS UNTIL THEY CAN RETURN TO WORK. REALLY I THOUGHT? AIN’T THAT SOMETHING AS I TURNED AWAY FRUSTRATED. BUT AS I TOOK MY SEAT THE BETTER PART OF WISDOM TOOK HOLD OF ME. WOULD I WANT TO BE 35K FEET IN THE AIR WITH A PILOT NODDING OFF AT THE WHEEL? OF COURSE NOT. MY LIFE WOULD SOON BE IN THEIR HANDS, AND I NEEDED THEM TO BE WELL RESTED.

POINT: THE FAA RUNS OFF OF A BASIC PREMISE WITH THIS RULE: BEFORE THE PILOT AND CREW CAN ADEQUATELY TAKE CARE OF YOU, THEY MUST FIRST TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES. TOO MUCH IS AT STAKE. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE BODIES OF HUNDREDS, THEY MUST FIRST GET REST FOR THEIR OWN BODY. THE CREW MUST DO THE RIGHT THING…FOR THEM.

CREATING THE NEED:

IT SOON DAWNED ON ME THAT WE PASTORS AND LEADERS HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH SOMETHING FAR GREATER THAN THE BODIES OF PEOPLE. TUCKED AWAY AT THE END OF THE BOOK OF HEBREWS THE WRITER EXHORTS THE READER TO PRAY FOR THEIR LEADERS FOR THEY KEEP WATCH OVER YOUR SOULS. AND AS JESUS WOULD REMIND US THAT WE MUST NOT FEAR THOSE WHO CAN KILL THE BODY, BUT FEAR HIM WHO HAS THE POWER OVER SOUL AND BODY. WE PASTORS AND LEADERS HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH SOMETHING EVEN MORE VALUABLE THAN THE BODY, WE’VE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE SOUL. SO IF PILOTS ARE DEMANDED TO TAKE REST GIVEN THEIR RESPONDED, HOW MUCH MORE SO SHOULD WE? WE MUST DO THE RIGHT THING…FOR US!

THE WORK OF SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP IS EXHAUSTING. THE DEMANDS OF PASTORAL MINISTRY IS UNENDING. LIKE A FAUCET WITH A STEADY DRIP, SO IS MINISTRY. IT IS CONSTANT. THE COMPLEXITIES OF IT ALL…THERE’S THE MARRIAGE THAT NEEDS COUNSELING, THE SIN THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH, THE STAFF THAT NEEDS TO BE LEAD, THE VISION WHICH NEEDS TO BE SPAWNED, INCUBATED AND BIRTHED. THERE’S ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS TO BE TENDED TO, MESSAGES TO BE PREACHED, MEETINGS TO SIT IN ON, FLIGHTS TO BE CAUGHT, BOOKS TO BE READ. AND I HAVEN’T EVEN TOUCHED ON THE FAMILY. THERE’S THE WIFE WHO NEEDS TO BE SHEPHERDED, THE KIDS WHO NEED TO BE POURED INTO AND AT TIMES DISCIPLINED. THERE’S THE HEARTBREAK THAT COMES FROM JUST THIS LIFE THAT WILL COME KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF YOUR HOME. THERE’S TIMES I’VE HAD TO PREACH AS I’VE HAD TO DEAL WITH A SICK SON AT ST. JUDES, AND A REBELLIOUS SON WHO’D BEEN SUSPENDED FROM SCHOOL. THERE’S BEEN TIMES I’VE BEEN IN AWE OF MY WIFE WHO HAS SAT THERE ON THE FRONT ROW AND LISTENED TO ME WHEN I HAD BEEN EVERYTHING BUT EXEMPLARY THE WEEK BEFORE. AND THAT’S JUST ONE WEEK! AND NEXT WEEK IT’S TIME TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN! STRING ENOUGH OF THESE WEEKS TOGETHER AN DYOU WILL BE HEADED TO THE ER OR DOWN A ROAD CALLED DEPRESSION. LEADERS, YOU MIST DO THE RIGHT THING FOR YOU. THIS IS THE MESSAGE OF .

DAVID’S FRAILTY

EXPLANATION: THIS IS THE MESSAGE OF - DO THE RIGHT THING FOR YOU. I KNOW THIS IS A CLASSIC PSALM WHERE WE IMMEDIATELY RUSH INTO THE APPLICATION FOR WHAT IT MEANS FOR US, BUT LET US REMEMBER WHO IS WRITING THIS PSALM. IT’S WRITTEN BY THE LEADER OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD. DON’T FORGET THAT, IT’S THE LEADER OF GOD’S PEOPLE WRITING THIS. SO THAT THE IMMEDIATE APPLICATION (NOT THE SOLE APPLICATION) IS FOR THE LEADER OF GOD’S PEOPLE. AND RIGHT OFF THE BAT, DAVID PAINTS A PICTURE OF HIS COMPREHENSIVE FRAILTY. HE IS IN TUNE WITH HIS WEAKNESSES AND LIMITS!