INFALLIBLE OR
INDISPENSABLE
Memorise: Wherefore let him
that thinketh he standeth take lest he fall. 1st Corinthians 10:12
Read: 1st
Corinthians 3:4-11, Bible in one year: 1st Samuel 29:31, Proverbs
9:1-12
Grace is crucial to our
growth in Christ. As Christians, we need the grace of God to overcome all the
perils on our way to Heaven. Two of such perils are the feelings of
infallibility and indispensability. Nobody, no matter how spirit-filled, is
incapable of making mistakes. A spiritual leader must be willing to concede the
possibility of mistakes and should be able to yield to the advice and criticism
of other brethren. The mindset of being infallible is a problem which many
sound Christians fall victim to. A leader who knows God, and probably know Him
better than this subtle peril. Do you have the impression that you are
infallible? Do you think you are incapable of making mistakes? Beware! This
feeling possibly emanates from the fact that you are talented, spiritual and
you sense of judgment has been proved to be more accurate than that of others,
or from the fact that you are capable of praying, thinking and wresting with
problems more earnestly and successful than your colleagues and peers. This
kind of feeling is dangerous. If care is not taken, pride will set in, and a
time may come when you will be unwilling to yield to the advice of others.
Nobody is infallible.
Also, nobody is
indispensable. No one is too important to be without. Nobody is irreplaceable.
God always has substitutes. When King Saul become obstinate and disobedient to
God, he was replaced by David. The knowledge that God has substitutes should
make you humble and keep you on your toes. This same knowledge should encourage
you to delegate responsibilities properly and mentor younger ones. Many leaders
cling to authority long after it should have been passed on to younger men
because of the through that they are irreplaceable. They believe that in the
best interest of the work, they should not relinquish office. Are you a
Christian leader? Are you a minister or a worker in God’s vineyard? Be informed
that you are neither indispensable nor irreplaceable. Are you a missionary? No
missionary is indispensable. Any missionary who has made himself indispensable
to the church he planted has done great disservice to the church. From the
earliest days of planting a church, a missionary should set it up in such a way
that he will remain in the background. He should cultivate in the members a
real dependence on the Lord and train spiritual men who as soon as practicable,
would assume full responsibility over the work. Practical solutions to the
peril of feeling indispensable are humility and mentoring. Go ahead and
replicate yourself in others through mentoring.
Action Point:
Be actively involved in
fellow-up, discipleship and mentoring of younger Christians.
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