“It’s your fault; it’s my effort”

A humble leader will take the blame and give the credit.

When things go wrong, “It’s my fault, I should have known; I should have predicted this…”

When things go right, “It’s thanks to the effort of my team; they’re an amazing group to work with…”

Rather than

When things go wrong, “It’s your fault; you’re all so incompetent”.

When things go right, “It’s thanks to my talent and ingenuity”.

When the leader starts taking all the credit and dishing out all the blame, we are just a step away from discontent and rebellion.

When a leader takes the blame it opens up an avenue for self-improvement.

When they take only the credit they can easily slump into a comfort zone and fail to predict future errors.

You don’t know what you are asking for…Part 3

You don’t know what you are asking for: Part 3

Some of the challenges we go through as Christians are a direct result of the prayers we address to God. It is the refining process to bring out the gold from the dross, the oil from the crude and the vessel from the raw material.

• You asked Him for a heart to love everyone who crosses your path; He did not go into His own heart, take a chunk of love and transplant it into yours. He rather put on your path some of the most unlovable people on planet earth. When you are through learning to love them, your heart will be full of unconditional love.
• You asked Him for landed property to build your church. He got you connected to a rich and sick atheist who has just the kind of thing you are looking for. Now roll your sleeves and get to work Sir/Madam.
• You asked him for an increase in finances; He showed you a poor, bankrupt and depressed businessman with lots of potential. Go get the millionaire out of them.
• You asked for a double portion of anointing, gifting and talent. He took you to boot camp. You must lose some flesh before you are entrusted with such anointing.
• You asked for a baby; He sent to you the most troublesome and unkempt street kids in your neighborhood. Can you bring up a child? Then start with that one.

You don’t know what you are asking for…Part 1

 

In Matthew chapter 20 we have this interesting yet soul-searching story that happens between Jesus and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. This good lady, perhaps anxious about the future of her two kids who have suddenly abandoned everything they ever worked for to join this roaming preacher called Jesus, tries to find a lasting solution to the uncertainty of their future. She comes to Jesus with a very unique request:

That her two sons will be members of cabinet when Jesus is crowned King. I told you she wanted a future for her kids, and a secure one too.

Note Jesus’ response here; he does not condemn this lady for even daring to make such a request seeing she has no business in the manner in which He organises His leadership and internal politics. This tells me that what she asks for is not out of bounds for her, she can get it if…

But then Jesus answers her in this manner: “You don’t know what you are asking for”.

The question we can therefore ask is, do we sometimes ask for things from God even without fully understanding what we are asking for?

This, thus, has prompted me to ask the following questions on which we can together reflect.

• Do you know what you really want in life?
• Do you know what it will take to get there?
• Are you willing to pay the price to get there?