We’re taking a look at three elements of identifying, empowering, and entrusting leaders with responsibility. The easy thing to do is to delegate responsibility at first glance. Delegation is part of the process, but it can’t be used as an excuse for infatuation, laziness, lack of knowledge, or apathy. To delegate too soon is to abdicate not empower and entrust.
And so, we began a 3-part series looking at how Denton Bible Church’s founding pastor empowered and entrusted leadership.
The first element was to SEE them. Anyone stepping up into a place or position of responsibility has to be seen. We examined SEEing HERE.
The second element is to KNOW them.
KNOW
What does it mean to KNOW someone, and how does it differ from simply SEEing them?
Anyone can make racket to be seen. Take the guy who is the loudest or the funniest in the group. Of course, he’ll be seen. He may even be around a lot, have all the potential in the world, and even look the part, but he may still not be ready for responsibility.
To KNOW someone means you spend time with them outside of their being “on”. In other words, what are they like at home? What are they like with their spouse (if they’re married)…their kids? What are they like with their friends when something doesn’t go their way? Are they rigid or are they flexible? Do they have a temper? Do they have secret and besetting sins that they’ve kept hidden? What areas of life do they keep others out of?
Now, I’m not saying that before a person is entrusted with responsibility that they have to bear all, expose all, and confess all.
What I am saying is that for a person to be entrusted with responsibility, they have to be observed in different areas of life, be around different people, and have their patterns noticed.
The bottom line…to KNOW someone means you need:
- Time
- To determine how they respond in various situations and challenges.
- To determine various perspectives from different opinions.
- To observe patterns.
- To see their sense of humor.
- To know their heart for the Lord, His Word, His cause, and His people.
- To know that–in failure–they confess, dust themselves off, pick up their ball, and get back in the game.
What’s the way forward?
- Don’t entrust responsibility to anyone based upon potential or even what you SEE.
- Entrust responsibility to someone that you KNOW.
- Remember that no one is perfect. So, even if you KNOW them, they will still fail. The difference is,
- they’ve earned the right to fail,
- their failure is as much your responsibility as it is theirs, and
- use their failure to teach, mature, and grow them (and you).
“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.””
1 Samuel 16:7
— June 5, 2020