3 Things Every leader needs to forget

Last month we started back up the monthly Pastor, Director, and Coordinator meeting. It was my first one since being on staff here at MPCC, but I've been to meetings similar to this before, so I already had my assumptions of what was going to happen. Anyway, I thought what my pastor shared was great insight into the book of Numbers and specifically chapter 11. All of these main points came from his own study. Now take 5 minutes, read chapter 11, and come back here you so have a better understanding of what is happening.

Basically, the people of God are complaining about the fact that all they have to eat is manna. Again, the same manna that God has been providing for them after their exile from captivity in Egypt. They want something else, and they are voicing their opinion. Moses is like "boo hoo, I need help God." God appoints Elders to help Moses, and then eventually God gives them loads and load of quail and strikes the people with a plague. Boom, all caught up. Here are some insights we leaders (we all are leaders in some form or another) can glean from this story.

1. FORGET ABOUT WINNING A POPULARITY CONTEST 
As leaders, no matter what decisions we make, someone or a group of people won't be happy. You can't please everyone, and in the end you need to call the shot that is going to best serve your people. Israel seemed to "forget" about the Red Sea. They no longer were thanking God for their deliverance and thanking Moses for leading that charge, instead they were complaining to Moses and taking their anger out on him. No matter what you do, someone won't like it, and that's something all leaders need to be able to live with. We can't try and please everyone. 

2. FORGET ABOUT DOING IT ON YOUR OWN
I think we often believe that we as humans can do most things. Our bodies are incredible. We can jump, run, think about complex problems, and the list goes on and on. There really seems to be few limitations to what we can do as people. Though some of us might think this, if we really take a step back, we need others in our corner, alongside us, to move forward. Moses even recognized this. He said, "I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me." (Numbers 11:14 ESV) God then tells him in verses 16 and 17 to go gather 70 men of Israel, and God placed the burden on the elders and Moses. If we want to lead, we need to do it with others around us.

3. FORGET ABOUT GIVING UP 
The constant arguing was causing Moses to go through a tough season. The burden was so heavy for him, he unfortunately asks God to just kill him. Verse 15 shows this. The burden of being a leader was so tough for Moses, that while he was trying to make people happy and lead by himself, he said "enough God. If they are going to treat me like this, kill me." My Pastor gleaned a thought from this. He thought maybe Moses was saying that he didn't want to give up, but he didn't want to be miserable and fail at the work he was doing. I know I've been there. If you read my last post, you know thats where I was in last year. A depressed season asking myself, "do I want to do this anymore? Do I want to be around...anymore?" By the grace of God, I'm still serving His Church in whatever way that looks like, for as long as He'll have me. 

But we need to ask the deep question "Has God called me to this life?" In whatever capacity we lead, we need to ask God if this is where he wants you, and hopefully to the best of our ability to not let our emotions sway what decisions we might make. So if there is a clear call in your life to lead in the way you believe God has called you do lead, don't give up. Keep pressing, keep leading, and keep serving your people. 

If you found these simple principles helpful, be sure to thank my Pastor, Pastor Chris Philbeck, and check back very soon for part two! Where I'll share the final 3 principles that we can glean from Numbers 11.