Purpose – LeadWay Centre

Purpose is everything. All of us need a purpose in life and in everything we do. Imagine yourself doing a work without a clear purpose of what you intend to achieve from it. It could become mindless, heartless, drudgery, even worse, stupid. No matter how great your skill may be, without a purpose in your mind you achieve nothing. You may not be different from a rolling stone that gathers no moss. Take for instance, a mature man building a paper kite. Anyone may wonder what he really needs a paper kite for. But the underlining fact is that he needs to build a paper kite that is capable of flying on the air. He has a purpose provided he knows what he wants his paper kite to do for him.

It is just the same as someone who wants to take a long holiday trip overseas. The first question would be where I’m I going to spend my holidays? The second question would be, how do I get there? Quickly, you will begin to analyze the requirements and make proper arrangements to ensure that you get the right paper works done. As soon as you have overcome the basic stages you begin to visualize how good and wonderful your trip would become. Assuming you want to visit London for your holidays, you will begin to study things about London. You will get to the map of United Kingdom and see where London is situated and possibly the interesting sites and parks you would like to visit. As you log on to the internet to see more interesting places and things, you probably discover the ancient River Thames of London and the historic Buckingham palace. May be someone have told you the stories about this places and now you have the opportunity to visit them. In a natural world, you are still within your own country because you have not yet boarded the airplane. But in your imaginary world you are already seeing yourself traveling in the streets of London. Now, for anyone to achieve his or her purpose, you must first dream it, analyze it and work towards it.

As a leader of God’s people, you have been chosen by God to lead his people to a country you have not been to before. Since you already know your destination which, of course, is heaven, you must do all you can to gather information and resources that will help you and your people get there. This is a very audios task. It is different than circular or business leadership principles. These principles are not taught in Harvard Business School. They are hidden on the pages of the Holy book, the Holy Bible. The pastor or spiritual leader is not a tour guide who takes people along to places of interest familiar to him. In the case of spiritual or biblical leadership, a servant-leader leads the people to God. He knows consciously that he himself is a stranger travelling along with other strangers on the same trip. So, his map is the bible and the Holy Spirit, his guide. If he fails to read his map, tendency, is that he may not reach the destination if he takes for granted that he has become familiar with the map. Remember, not every flight that takes off reaches their destination. Sometimes it may end in a tragic crash that claims not only the life of the pilot but also of his crew members and passengers alike.

NOAH

And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. (Genesis 6:10 – 14) NKJV

Noah is a novice as long as shipbuilding is concerned. But God called him and asked him to build a ship. He was spurred by the purpose of the ship. Knowing that the ship he would build would house him and his household together during the catastrophic natural disaster that would hit his sinful world. The knowledge of what his benefit would become enabled him to start such a heavy task. He knew that if he refused to build the ark he would be dead and his family as well. The same is true today. Every Christian leader is called to build an ark that is capable of saving them and their families – God’s people.

ABRAHAM

And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” (Genesis 18:17 – 19) NKJV

The Patriarch of the Hebrews was called with a purpose. His purpose was to establish and spread the radical belief that there was one God whose spirit permeated and unified the entire universe. Until the time of Abraham, the universe was thought to be split into many compartments, each of which had its own reigning force or god.

Thus, Abraham was called to present God as a universal God. The God of the Hebrews is the God of the Bible. Permit me to use this moment to talk about Moses’ great goal of leading the people of Israel (Hebrews) out of Egyptian slavery to the edge of the Promised Land.

Every leader is unique in their own sense by what purpose they hold on to. Aimless leadership is no leadership at all. Leadership must be purposeful and goal oriented. While Moses’ purpose was to lead them out of Egyptian bondage, Joshua’s purpose was to lead them in. every leader should know why God called them, otherwise, why are they in leadership.

God called Solomon so that he would build a temple, not for his own glory, but for the glory of a higher power and purpose. And the goal of the prophets was that each in his own unique way would keep an entire nation from straying from its original purpose.

THE MODERN DAY LEADER AND HIS MOTIVATION

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:1 – 8) NKJV

For the modern day leader, the ability to formulate a clear, compelling purpose and stay “on purpose” is the difference between success and failure, between an inspired and inspiring work life and the mere pursuit of profit or a big pay cheque.

The modern leader must remember that profit is not all about leadership. There must be a deep sense of satisfaction in what one does for God. The driving force must not be profit, but service. However, there is a great reward for those who serve faithfully in time and in eternity. The promise of a hundred fold is truly yours if you don’t fall into the temptation of profit first syndrome. Modern day Christian leaders must return to a sacrificial lifestyle.

After all, we brought nothing into this world and we shall go out of it with nothing. What testimonies will your subjects give about you after you are no more? Will they remember you for your generosity or for your taskmanship or for your wealth? There is now a great calling to all our leaders to reorder their priorities. If you are one of the leaders or would be leader, please have a clear purpose of your ministry and focus on the things that glorify God rather than ego.

CONTINUITY

Let’s take a look at Joshua after he led the Israelites into the Promised Land and accomplished his purpose of settling it, he resoundingly reminded the nation of the continuity of its purpose and the need to carry that purpose to its next stage of development. That’s why he urged them to be strong, to obey all that was written in the book of the law of Moses, and not to intermarry with other nations or to form too close an alliance with any nation, since that would threaten their identity and, ultimately, their sense of purpose.

CONSOLIDATION

A few centuries later, King David’s purpose was to consolidate the power of Israel and strengthen it ideologically. In a sense, he was the great builder of corporate culture for the new nation. He made sure that the nation was strong culturally, monetarily and militarily. His son Solomon also continued with that same sense of purpose by building the first temple in Jerusalem.

At some point God may call a leader just to consolidate on the gains of past leaders. Such consolidative leadership should be encouraged and given necessary support. God knows what to do with His church at every given time and generation. After King David’s great wars and accolades, he became the one God would use for the consolidation of Israel.

SPECTATOR SYNDROME

We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:“I will dwell in them, And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” (2 Corinthians 6:1; 11-16) NKJV

Why are so many obviously capable people in our churches shunning leadership roles? Why are the managers and directors in oil companies, bank executives and multimillion business tycoon executives, captains of industries taking a back seat in church? The church has become in comparison a football match with twenty two men badly needing a rest, being watched by thousands of spectators badly needing exercise. Unfortunately, this is true of the church today. Many qualified hands are taking the back seats allowing the unqualified to take leadership roles. That is why many church organizations are backward in terms of human development. They may spend millions of naira or dollar building large auditoriums for worship, but if the human capacity that should administer and lead that organization is inadequately prepared, the organization will certainly suffer from retarded, stunted growth. That’s why most of our churches are not growing and are not retaining academics in them.

A situation whereby an elite child who attends a good primary or say Montessori happens to visit some churches and listens to the type of English the children teachers use in the children department of the Sunday School to teach, that intelligent child will automatically request his parents to change from that church. And most times, parents of nowadays would not allow anything that hurts the feelings of their children. Certainly, that very church stands the risk of losing future potential leaders. If you are in doubt of my assertion, please take time out and visit some church services even Sunday Schools and listen to the quality of grammar coming out of that pulpit or Sunday School class and you will be asking yourself where are the qualified ones. Unfortunately, they are just there in the church sitting at the back row and being taught by the unqualified. What on earth is the future of such a church?

The quality of messages or teachings will determine the quality of life of its adherents. I am not implying that good grammar is what grows a church, but to some extent it helps to retain visitors who are hungry of leaders who are capable of combining spirituality, sociality, and academics in order to reach the modern society and all classes of people in our present world. This is true of many old mainstream denominational churches. They are afraid of change and are unable to move from ancient, mundane mentality to accept the present reality. There is, of course, no way a present day church can function exactly the same way as a church five decades ago. The present leaders are getting better informed, better prepared, but the problem is that the people seem to have their own sense of righteousness which is based on mere perception and methods rather than scriptures.

Why are our laymen wasting away? Many have not offered themselves for Godly services. The question remains, why? Are you a spectator or a performer? My prayer for you is this, “may the blessings of God not overtake you to the extent that you cannot humble yourself anymore to serve God”. I speak directly to any one of you reading this book that God is still in need of your services, the men, women, boys, girls and children in the church are still in dare need of what you have to offer. May you never become a disappointment to your generation. Several reasons could be adduced as to why people are nonchalant and sometimes put up lackadaisical attitude in the things of God.

Some claim they are not called to do this and that services. They may just be wrong. What people think about calling is just what they don’t understand about it. That gift of teaching, administration, counseling, singing, writing, memorizing, ushering, cleaning, maintenance, etc. They are all special graces given to us to profit others. How come any one would say they are not called. It seems they simply don’t understand the calling of God. May be they are expecting a burning bush experience like Moses. The Bible says that God has given everyone gifts according to our measure of grace. Therefore, quickly activate now your sense of calling by defining God’s purpose for you on earth.

Others feel that they are not skillful in doing church works. This again is erroneous. If you have the skill of management of a business, that skill is also needed in the church. The church needs accountants who are capable of keeping her financial records. So it is with many other professions. They are needed in the body of Christ for effectiveness and efficiency so that the church can meet the need of every one in it.

Some claim they are not ambitious or competing with their spiritual leaders. This is also wrong. If you have a gift and you allow the spirit of God to use you to bring blessings to others and you make yourself available, the minister or pastor who is not inferior will have no problem using his laymen to accomplish God’s purpose for the church. Others claim that they don’t have time enough to do church work. Remember, whatever your reasons may be, you are what you are today because the one who controls time made you. If your work is affecting your devotion and commitment to God, it is time you reorder your priorities and redefine your purpose on earth. Life on earth is nothing without God. We brought nothing into it and we will take nothing out of it.

Some people are afraid of taking leadership position in the church because they don’t want to be exposed. They don’t want to live like a celebrity who has no secrets to protect. As a celebrity you lose your privacy. The little details of your life are magnified and distorted. Many people don’t want to lead because they have things to protect.

Sometimes, some feel like they don’t get paid doing church work, so why spend such energy and time doing it. After all there are people who are paid to do it. They may even suggest that all the work in the church be contracted out so that they are not guilty of not serving God. Some cannot lead because it opens them up to all sorts of people. Both great and small, poor and the rich will have access to them and they are not ready for that. It is just like saying, “if you can’t stand the smell of sheep, don’t be a shepherd”.

There is no doubt that spiritual leadership takes all that is in us until we have nothing of ourselves. Apostle Paul says, “for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). He also says, “The life I live now in the flesh, it is no longer I that live but Christ Jesus lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). No longer can we live of ourselves, if we must live for Him. Life is all about purpose.