LEADERS ARE PROBLEM-SOLVERSFinally, after a leader has successfully led his people to victory over a
problem, he needs to lead them in a time of celebration. (A leadership
lesson I am still learning!). So often leaders are off to the next battlefront
before they have taken time to regroup and celebrate with their people
the victory from the last battle. They are ready to take on a new and
bigger problem before pausing to celebrate their corporate success over
the last one. Leaders often become addicted to the “blood and guts” of
battle. Their leadership style is summarized by General Patton who
exclaimed: “War is hell – but I love it!” These kinds of leaders live off a
constant “adrenaline high.” They are like adventurers and thrill seekers
- always trying to find a new thrill with a higher high! However, God did
not create us with the spiritual, mental, emotional, or physical ability to
always be tense and taut. We were not meant to be always “psyched-up up
for battle.” A muscle cannot perpetually be flexed. The emotions cannot
always be high. The adrenaline cannot continuously flow. The shield and
armor must be laid aside for a time. The battle bow must be periodically
unstrung – or constant tension will destroy its strength. The sword must
be sharpened and put back into its sheath for a season. Wounds must be
given time to heal. Depleted emotions must be restored. Physical rest
must come – or battle fatigue will deplete the ranks.
Problem-solving can be very fatiguing – spiritually, mentally, emotionally,
physically – and organizationally. God set the perfect example when
“...He rested from all the work of creating that He had done” (Gen.
1:3). Just as He set aside one day a week as His “Sabbath rest” (Ex. 20:8),
He instructed us to keep it as holy unto Him.
We can see Jesus teaching the importance of rest in the lives of the
leaders He was mentoring. After He sent the Twelve out to preach, heal
the sick, and drive out demons, He took them away for a time of “R &
R,” or rest and relaxation. During that intense time of ministry, they had
given much of themselves spiritually, emotionally and physically. After
their return, Jesus called them to Himself for a time of reporting and
celebrating. The Bible records that they “returned with joy” and excitedly
reported to Jesus: “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name,”
they exclaimed! That’s real problem-solving based upon deliverance from
the demonic realm! Jesus explained the full significance of their victory: