Are you a Leader?

 The next day Moses sat down to judge the people, and they stood around Moses from morning until evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw everything he was doing for them he asked, “What is this thing you’re doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?” 15 Moses replied to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and another. I teach [them] God’s statutes and laws.” 17 “What you’re doing is not good,” Moses’ father-in-law said to him. 18 “You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You can’t do it alone. 19 Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and God be with you. You be the one to represent the people before God and bring their cases to Him. 20 Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do. 21 But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating bribes. Place [them] over the people as officials of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 22 They should judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you every important case but judge every minor case themselves. In this way you will lighten your load, and they will bear [it] with you. 23 If you do this, and God [so] directs you, you will be able to endure, and also all these people will be able to go home satisfied.” 24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 So Moses chose able men from all Israel and made them leaders over the people [as] officials of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 26 They judged the people at all times; the hard cases they would bring to Moses, but every minor case they would judge themselves. 27 Then Moses said goodbye to his father-in-law, and he journeyed to his own land.
Ex 18:13-27 (HCSB)

Have you ever asked yourself what makes a leader a leader?  For some we believe leadership means that I am responsible so I will do it.  Sometimes we like to feel needed.  But if we are to be useful as a leader in His Kingdom we need to understand that we may need to change.  Moses in the passage above had to make 7 major steps or changes.

1. Listen to wise counsel.
2. Do what you were primarily called to do.  For a pastor that is to preach/teach, pray and lead.
3. Select competent people who can help to lead.
4. Empower leadership to lead.
5. Organize for maximum impact.
6. Let them go!
7. Be available as a resource and a helper.