Judges 13-15 Effective Leadership

March 23rd, Judges 13-15

       From beginning to end, Samson's life seems to be lived on a bigger scale. The start, the choices, the power, the scenarios all seem like a whole lot of drama. The story of Joshua seemed like a witness of all of God's greatness accomplishing these things for his people, with Joshua's name in the fine print at the bottom of the page. Joshua led God's people during this time. Samson on the other hand, is a figure where the story always seems to be about him with an asterisk next to God at the bottom of the page.
        Samson is a witness of God's special anointing on an individual. Everything he does turns to gold, he can't seem to be stopped. If Samson lived in our day, there would be no doubt that God's hand was upon him. Like a Billy Graham, there's just no question that God is using him in a special way. There is a difference though.
       I think there is a weight to the calling God gives people. Moses experienced this weight as he moved from a shepherd tending a flock to a calling to lead 2 million people. There is more weight to the later calling and the weight begins to expose some cracks. Some cracks in our character can be ignored or written off when there is no weight. Some cracks might not ever be a big problem while your tending sheep.
       Here's the trouble of leadership... those cracks will grow overtime due to having to bear the load. Samson's character was filled with cracks and as the weight of his anointing grew, the erosion of his foundation was exposed, and ultimately the foundation fell apart.
       People avoid leadership for this very reason, the weight reveals the cracks. It's a catch 22, leadership gives you the chance to notice what you wouldn't have noticed otherwise. If you haven't noticed, God has an ability to make things new. Those cracks are repaired through walking with Christ. The strength of obedience instead of the cracks that come from doing it "my way."
       The invitation is for all of us to lead. God calls us to walk down a narrow road that not many will choose and he calls us to call others down this same road...that's leadership. In the midst of this leadership position God calls us to, our character development has to come along for the ride. Let Samson's life be witness to what happens when it doesn't.