Wisdom

Wisdom

There is an old story about a lamb that got away from the rest of the flock as she munched her meal. She did not notice a wolf approaching. When the wolf pounced, the lamb begged the wolf saying, "Please don't eat me. I have been eating grass and that will make me bitter. I will taste better if you wait a while." The wolf thought that made sense. The lamb said, "If you let me dance the grass will be digested faster and then you can eat me." Once again the wolf agreed. The lamb said, "I could dance faster if I had some music to dance to. Why don't you ring my bell so I can dance faster." The wolf agreed. The wolf rang the bell and that alerted the shepherd and he rescued the lamb. Sometimes those who seem weakest are the wisest.

Humble Leadership

Humble Leadership
Don't take a position of leadership in church unless you are prepared to be honest, pure, and loving in your lifestyle. Leadership is a privilege, and with privilege comes responsibility. God holds teachers of His truth doubly responsible because we who lead are in a position where we can either draw people toward Christ or drive them away from Him.

This is illustrated in the life of the famous author Mark Twain. Church leaders were largely to blame for his becoming hostile to the Bible and the Christian faith. As he grew up, he knew elders and deacons who owned slaves and abused them. He heard men using foul language and saw them practice dishonesty during the week after speaking piously in church on Sunday. He listened to ministers use the Bible to justify slavery. Although he saw genuine love for the Lord Jesus in some people, including his mother and his wife, he was so disturbed by the bad teaching and poor example of church leaders that he became bitter toward the things of God.

Indeed, it is a privilege to be an elder, a deacon, a Sunday school teacher, or a Bible club leader. But it is also an awesome responsibility. Let's make sure we attract people to the Savior rather than turn them away.