Seasoned Leadership
“One day as Jesus was walking along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother, Andrew, fishing with a net, for they were commercial fishermen. Jesus called out to them… - Mark 1:16-17a (NLT).
Jesus is about to choose his twelve disciples – but before we discuss this, we need to appreciate the leadership context in which his selections were made.
Jesus was a seasoned leader when he returned from the wilderness. He was seasoned by trials of the desert and the Devil. He learned lessons in the wilderness that only want and deprivation can teach. He learned about thirst, hunger, discouragement, and temptation. He spent more than forty days praying about his upcoming ministry, and the choosing of the twelve men who would become apostles.
His time in the wilderness seasoned him to make wise choices in selecting twelve men who would become the foundation of the church (See Ephesians 2:20). His choices later proved to be right when everyone but those twelve deserted him (See John 6:60-70).
Seasoned men and women make the best leaders.
We err greatly in the church when we constantly look for only the young faces to fill our pulpits, and leadership positions. We wrongly and foolishly cast aside our older leaders who have been seasoned in the wilderness of spiritual battle merely because they are old or have gray hair.
Yet we do it.
It is well known that once a preacher has reached a certain age - - say, around forty-five or so - - he is no longer wanted in many churches in this country - - unless he is some kind of proven icon.
Many Godly, capable men cannot find a pulpit simply because they are fifty. How preposterous! Just when a man may be seasoned enough to really be successful we cast him aside. Just when he has made enough mistakes not to repeat some really major blunders, we tell him he can’t lead anymore. But it isn’t just pastors – it is leaders in general that we tend to discount or discard with age.
We would do well to learn the lesson of Jesus’ wilderness. God sent Jesus in the wilderness to pray, fast, and battle the forces of darkness before beginning his ministry. Why is it, then, that we take young men and women straight out of High School or College and thrust them into key leadership roles in the church?
Don’t misunderstand. Our young people are wonderful, and capable, and critical. Some of them are great leaders, and teach us much. We need their energy, joy, intelligence, and perspective. No church should hold back their young, or discourage them from serving the Lord. Some of the best ideas and even leadership can come from our young. We should let no one despise youthfulness.
But when we are young we also make many mistakes. We sometimes alienate people we shouldn’t. We tend to ignore that upon which we should focus, and focus on that which we should ignore. We needlessly offend others just because we aren’t even aware of them or their needs. We haven’t been hurt enough to be very compassionate toward others who are suffering. We sometimes take others down rabbit trails, and lean toward quitting when the going gets rough.
Again, don’t misunderstand. Older leaders can make these same mistakes. Age does not automatically bring wisdom, or prevent mistakes. Older leaders continue to make mistakes. However, they also avoid some big blunders and pitfalls that younger leaders tend to make.
When I left Bible College I was the ripe old age of twenty-two. I became the Senior Minister of a church. That was a bad move – by the church and by me. I wasn’t ready for it. I wasn’t senior to anything or anyone. I couldn’t lead, and didn’t even understand what leadership was. It would take twenty years of seasoning and survival in the wilderness for me to begin to grasp leadership.
What I needed was years spent under a seasoned mentor, so I could learn how to lead and serve. I never had such a luxury, and had to learn everything the hard way through pain and problem. And I’m still learning, and have far to go.
But the point is made. Whether in life or the church, there is no substitute for seasoning in the wilderness. It is through such seasoning that God works.
We should value and cherish it.