DECISIONS

Anytime we talk about leadership we need to include a discussion on decision making. Have you ever been to a restaurant with some friends? How long did it take to make a decision about what to order? This can drive me crazy. I can be just as indecisive as the next guy. There are times, though, where I decide that it is not my last meal; I am really here to talk and socialize; and it surely won't kill me (no guarantee on this last one) to just pick something. So how do we think about making decisions and the risks they invariably lead us to take?

We need to acknowledge that being a leader means making decisions. In fact this could be some of the hardest work you will ever do. It is not just THE DECISION. It is all the work it takes to get to that decision AND handling the results. Many times it is coming to the realization that there might be several right decisions and you have to choose one. God grant us mercy.

Leadership does mean moving forward. If the object of our leadership is healthy it is growing in some way. If it is growing, decisions need to be made. I can't stand over a flower plant forever without deciding it needs water to survive. If I don't water that plant it has no hope of survival. So it is with our leadership. We can't just stand back and watch life go by. We need to make decisions. They may not always be the right ones--or the best ones. But they need to be made.

One of the reasons that mission and vision is so important is that it helps us make decisions. If God has called me to make the best ice cream (simple example--but tasteful) and somebody asks if I want to make popcorn instead, I know to say NO. God called me to make ice cream. Knowing what you have been called to do and knowing how you are supposed to do it helps you make good decisions. This won't deal with every decision but it does cover some of those that can really mess up what we are doing.

Sometimes you just have to do your homework and make the best decision you can. Where should we open up a checking account? There are many options. You do your homework--interest rates, charges, policies,--and make the best decision you can. It could cause grief later but making no decision is worst.

Procrastination is a real decision killer. Decisions need to be made in a timely manner. Procrastination is, in effect, a decision (usually a bad one) to put something off, and off, and off. What this does in those who depend on us cannot be diminished. They begin to doubt our ability to lead. It also tells them that they, too, can put off their decisions (like paying the mortgage or spending time with the family). Here is an illustration from history. General George McClellan was a leader who avoided making decisions. Early in the American Civil War he was ordered by Lincoln to attack Richmond, Virginia, but he delayed. Historians speculate that if he had made an immediate decision to attack as ordered, the war could have been over in a matter of months rather than dragging on for four years.

More than likely, the majority of your decisions will be made with less than a 100% certainty. We just need to remember we are not perfect. We study, research, pray, listen, seek counsel, and then make the best decision we can with the knowledge and wisdom we have.

Remember that we don't serve alone. We need to involve appropriate others in our decision making process, but, not everyone we know. We need to involve those who have more knowledge or wisdom, those who serve along side of us, and any other appropriate people. Minor decisions should welcome the input of others as well. Much of this is determined by our attitude. What does your heart want? Are you a team player?

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Yep, some of your decisions will be wrong. Or, they won't work out as anticipated. I am pretty convinced that if we do our part, with hearts really seeking what is right, we will come out OK at the end. It may be rough going. You may learn many painful lessons. You will receive a few accolades. You will gain wisdom and strength. It is so important to acknowledge our errors and to evaluate our decisions honestly if we are to serve the people who are following us.

What are your comments?

• What is your basic decision making process?
• If someone invited you to go on a one year mission trip how would you arrive at the decision? Be honest. What are some things you should change in that process?
• Think of a bad decision you have made and explain how you could have done a better job.

HEART OF FLESH

Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV) ²⁶I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

What does this heart of flesh look like? Where does this heart of flesh come from? What does it mean as a disciple of Jesus? What does it mean for a developing leader?

We need to understand that this heart of flesh is replacing one of stone. One that is hard, unfeeling, cold and unchangeable. The heart of flesh is the opposite. It is soft, tender, moldable and warm. There is one other characteristic that I think is perhaps the most important. The heart of flesh can be hurt. A knife can penetrate it. Parts can be cut from it. Not a very safe thing to have, is it?

The heart of flesh appears when we come to grips with the fact that we are not complete; that we don’t have all the answers. When we begin to pontificate about things spiritual and forget that God is even bigger than we are we are functioning with a heart of stone. When it suddenly hits us that we are not perfect, that God’s voice to us is through our own filters and many times misunderstood, and that we are pompous, we begin to understand the “heart of stone” and experience that “heart of flesh.” When loving is more important then being right, we are beginning to see the heart of flesh formed within us. And yes it is painful.

There are times when we are so caught up in ourselves that we think we can do anything. We take on a project that is far beyond our capabilities but we are sure we can do it. We have been taught to be independent and to stand on our own. We do it well—being independent and standing on our own. All of us, though, at some point find ourselves in the middle of some vast ocean, alone, and with no one in sight to help. This might be in our struggle with sin, with relationships, with finances, or any other area of our lives. We sink—once, twice, and as we go for the third time we cry out—GOD! Help me. Our Father hears our cry and we find that we are no longer in the ocean. We have been saved. We throw ourselves on His mercy. These are the times that our hearts become flesh. When life has gone too far for us to control and we know we need someone to take control—God.

It may happen when the world seems to be falling on top of us or slipping out from under our feet. Things beyond our control begin to chip away at our stability—at the ground on which we walk. Loss of job, death of loved ones, broken relationships, or other “disasters” strike our lives. We want to quit! We want out! We find ourselves collapsing under the weight of our “situation.” At some time in this chain of events we break down or we turn to one who is able to bring us through. We find ourselves, once again, to be children looking to our Father for his love and care, surrendering to his will. These are painful times.

There are other times when choosing to do the right thing is going to cause us suffering. Keeping my mouth closed when others are accusing me of wrong doing. I remember years ago when I took some action because of information I had as a pastor. It would have been wrong of me to share those details. There were some who were not happy with my decision and felt that I needed to pursue a situation that was really out of my power to change. I could not defend myself without revealing pastoral confidences. Those times will come your way. You will suffer. And yet it is those times, too, that will bring the “heart of flesh.”

We find ourselves in good company. Luke 4 shows us some of the rejection that Jesus experienced. He experienced the denial of his closest comrades. Paul suffered many times and in many ways as he followed his savior. John, the writer of the gospel and letters, suffered persecutions, as did most of the followers of Jesus in the early church. You may not experience persecution or martyrdom but rest assured you will suffer as you walk into the way of leadership.

Yet, I believe that it is the pain and suffering that allows the “heart of flesh” to be planted in our heart and that it is a key to the success of a leader. A leader who is not willing to suffer will never be the leader that God is calling for today.

As you pursue this "never-ending walk into leadership" and take up the position to which God has called you, you will know that you have a heart of flesh because of the pain you will suffer. You need to be able to love with no expectation of reciprocal love. You need to give when the person in front of you is a taker and never responds. Sharing the gospel with a sinner who rejects the gospel is a very painful experience.

A heart of flesh is also an open heart. There are people around you that the church says to stay away from because they will be negative influences in your life. We need to be in the middle of these people if our God is going to infiltrate their lives (Matt 28:19-21). Oh sure, some will come to faith because of a tract or radio or TV, but most will never consider the gospel because they have never experienced anyone who lives the gospel. What we live within the safe walls of our churches is a part of the gospel (Acts 2:42-77), if our lives are being transformed into Christ. But can this be the complete picture when we see that Christ walked among sinners—among the worst. He was willing to stop and listen, to heal and to teach, to touch and weep. Is today's church going to impact the world? Are we, as leaders going to get off of our self-made thrones and walk among God's (each one was made in his image) hurt, bleeding, and suffering people. The Prince and the Pauper is a cute movie that in a simple way shows what happens when we leave the protective walls of our castle—ah, church. Watch the film sometime and see what truth you can find there.

FOR YOUR JOURNAL

• Convinced that you have experienced both a heart of stone and a heart of flesh in your life explain how they differed in feeling and in outcome.
• How has your church experience encouraged you to move out into the world of the lost?
• Write about any fears you might have regarding having a heart of flesh.