Do you ever feel overwhelmed with your responsibilities? As servant leaders we know that we are to consistently Build Performance in every aspect of our lives and leadership. That can be extremely daunting.
Jesus model of Building Performance sets the bar extremely high for us. In fact so high that on our own we cannot do it. Lets looks at a Biblical example where Jesus is asking for enhanced performance.
In Matthew 14:13-21 we read about the time Jesus and his disciples were in a remote place with over 5,000 hungry people. The disciples asked Jesus to send the crowds away so they could go back to the villages and buy their own food. Instead Jesus told his disciples, “That isn’t necessary, you feed them”. They answered, “we can’t feed them, we only have 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish”. Somewhat frustrated I’m sure, Jesus then told the disciples to bring him the bread and fish. He then took it and looked up to heaven and blessed it. He then broke the bread into pieces and gave it to the disciples to distribute to the people. After feeding over 5,000 people they ended up with 12 baskets of leftovers.
Do you think Jesus was serious when he asked his disciples to feed the people? I think he was. I also think he was teaching them, and us today, a lesson. We cannot expect to Build Performance to the levels that Jesus expects us to without his help!
As leaders we have all been tossed in over our heads. We are assigned responsibilities that exceed our capability and capacity. Whether it is marriage, raising children, or becoming a servant leader, we are out of our league on our own.
Jesus leaned on his Father (God) throughout his life to carry him through as he delivered on his purpose. That is the example he lays out for us. He has invited us with open arms to communicate daily with him through the study of scripture and prayer to enable us to Build Performance in our lives, and in his Kingdom.
Jesus promised and expects “greater things” from us. In John 14:12 he says, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.
God demands performance beyond our reach so we must depend on His strength in us. We know and understand that we cannot live up to that on our own. Thinking first and foremost about the greater good of others is not natural for us, and can only happen by us leading through Jesus in our lives. He can make it happen!!
My partner in Leadership Roundtable, Dr. Mark Herringshaw shared this simple prayer with me that I think does a great job of summarizing the only way we can expect to Build our Performance as a Servant Leader:
I can’t
You can
Please do
Thank YOU!!
I invite you to embrace this prayer. Turn over all your challenges to Jesus with full confidence that He will help you Build Performance in every aspect of your life.
Mark Deterding
When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.