By: Dale Weckbacher
Matthew 6:33
But seek
first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things
will be added to you.
(ESV)
Next Wednesday we will resume our continuing study on the
fruits of the Spirit. Looking at the
chaotic world in which we live makes it difficult for us to find balance and
peace. While we often apply Matthew 6:33
in the context of God supplying a financial or material need, it also has an
application for adding peace and comfort during chaotic times.
While many leadership theories abound, many industries are
now adopting the adaptive leadership theory due to the chaotic environment
businesses and organizations must function within. The theory is appealing due to its adapting
to situational changes like changes in technology and cultural
demographics. The theory also gives
guidance on leadership behavior and how they can lead those following them into
adoption of changes creating chaos around them.
(1)
How we behave and react in chaotic times will determine if
we can achieve and keep balance in our lives.
Jesus behavior during His ministry on earth provides an example of an
adaptive leader achieving a balance of holding firm in his beliefs and mission
while adapting to chaotic changes occurring around him. Let us take a moment to look at each of the
behaviors outlined in the adaptive leadership theory and how Jesus demonstrated
them in His ministry.
1)
Get on the balcony (1)
– The imagery here is one of a leader standing on a balcony looking over the
situation, gaining a loftier perspective.
After cleansing a leper and telling him to present himself to the
priest, reports of the healing spread and great crowds began to gather to hear
Jesus’ teaching and receive healing.
However, instead of immediately jumping into ministering to these needy
followers, Jesus would withdraw to desolate places and pray (Luke5:12-16). Jesus knew the importance of
getting on the balcony of prayer. In the
middle of chaos, the temptation is to jump into the situation and try to fix it,
but it is wiser to get on the balcony of prayer to achieve a loftier Godly
perspective.
2)
Identify the adaptive challenge (1) – Adaptive
challenges involve the leadership challenge of encouraging followers to solve
and tackle problems. Jesus knew what
would happen to him and that when he left, the Disciples would be those
spreading the news of the Gospel. To
tackle this adaptive challenge, Jesus sent them out to minister with a warning
that persecution would come but to have no fear and that the message would not
bring peace but a sword (Matthew 10:5-39).
While we do not know exactly what will happen in our lives as Jesus did,
we can reach out to Jesus in faith and know that when we seek him, he will meet
our needs (Matthew 6:33)
3)
Regulate distress (1)
– Imagine following a man you believe is the one who will save you from the
oppressive government occupation you have been experiencing. He enters the capital to accolades and many
including yourself believe he will march in and overthrow the oppressors. However, instead of victory you see your
leader brutally murdered. This is
exactly how the two men on the road to Emmaus must have felt (Luke24:13-35). However, Jesus regulated
their destress through showing them in scripture that His crucifixion was part
of the plan and then revealed His identity to them, showing them that he had
risen from the dead. We too can mitigate
the stress of chaotic situations occurring in our lives through spending time
with Christ through His Word and prayer.
4)
Maintain disciplined attention (1) – When faced with
the reality that the one he believed was his savior would suffer death by crucifixion,
Peter reacted out of fear by denying he knew Jesus (Matthew 26:69-75). If Peter was to become the leader of the
early church it was important for Jesus to maintain disciplined attention on
the mission of the church, spreading the Gospel (Mark 16:15). After seeing the resurrected Lord, having Him
restore and forgive Him (John 21:15-19), and receiving the baptism of the Holy
Spirit (Acts 2), we see the restoration of Peter’s focus and discipline on the
mission at hand. Pausing to meditate on
the truth that God sent His Only Son to die for our sins and spending time in
the Word of God allowing the Holy Spirit to interpret its meaning in our lives
is what everyone needs to support spiritual discipline in their lives.
5)
Give the work back to the people (1) – While Jesus as God
did many things through His earthly ministry, if He were the only person doing
the work, there would have been limits to His outreach. However, after His ascension to Heaven, God
sent the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that descended upon Jesus at His baptism to
fill every believer giving the work of the Gospel back to the people (Mark16:17, Acts 1:8). Jesus is still alive and the master
delegator. We who are in the church
today have the privilege of continuing the work Jesus has delegated to us but
are we willing to take up the work.
6)
Protect leadership voices from Below (1) – Good leaders
listen to all that follow them understanding that often those considered at the
bottom or the fringes of the organization are closer and more impacted by
changes occurring in the environment within which the organization
functions. Therefore, Jesus did not go
to the religious leaders of His time but instead called ordinary people as His
disciples (Matthew 4:18-22). When
criticized for His association with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus reminded
the religious leaders that it is not the healthy that need a doctor but the
sick (Mark 2:15-17). We all are sinners
(Romans 3:23) and fall into the category of the sick, yet even in this state
Jesus became one of us and died for us (Romans 5:8).
The best way to achieve balance in chaotic times is through
a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
If you have not already done so, I encourage you to pray with me and
enter into this relationship giving stability in chaotic times,
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know
that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse
me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).
I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now
declare you Lord of my life.
While the
chaos may continue around our lives, having a personal relationship with Jesus
gives us someone on the balcony we can turn to receiving a loftier perspective
to our situation and Godly guidance.
Chaotic times like these require following the greatest adaptive leader
to live, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the
Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) something we all need in chaotic times.
1. Miller, Andrew. What is adaptive leadership?
www.andrewmiller.com. [Online] Andrew Miller, January 8, 2016. [Cited:
November 10, 2017.]
http://www.andrewemiller.com/2016/01/08/what-is-adaptive-leadership/.
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