Honoring Leaders

August 2009

And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Col. 3:23 (NIV)

I came across an article in the sports section of last Sunday’s Wichita Eagle heralding the induction of coaching legend Lou Holtz into the College Football Hall of Fame. Being a fan of Coach Holtz, I read with interest the comments made about him.

Lou Holtz took over six struggling college football programs and within two years of his arrival turned them all into bowl teams. He led the ‘Fighting Irish’ of Notre Dame University to their last national football championship in 1988.  Tom Coyne said of Coach Holtz that he knew only one way to coach, “all out.”

I suppose it was Coyne’s statement about coaching ‘all out’ that caused me to remember Paul’s instruction to the slaves among Colossian believers, specifically the part about doing everything as if we were doing it for the Lord.

Coach Holtz has described his philosophy of success as having a plan, working hard, holding people accountable, believing you can win, and getting people to make good decisions. Pretty solid concept.

Coaching legend Tom Landry, once told an audience that his part in the success of the Dallas Cowboys was to get talented men to do the tough things they didn’t want to do in order to win.

Sounds a lot like the work of a shepherd, especially the part about getting talented people to do the tough things they don’t necessarily want to do.

Many of the tasks of a football coach and those of a shepherd are similar. Both are accountable for success or failure. Both coordinate the activities of others and both provide direction. However, in the 20th chapter of Matthew Jesus makes clear the uniqueness of a shepherd when he defines the responsibility of a leader in terms of service.

You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matt. 20:25-28 (NIV)

By directing that the primary responsibility of a leader is that of a servant, Jesus set in place the leadership standard that separates those who lead in his name from those who don’t. His expectation of sacrificial leadership makes no provision for position, circumstance, or difficulty. Therefore all who call upon him as savior are bound to his standard of leadership.

The life of a winning football coach is marked by discipline, Discipline in study, training, practice, and excellence in execution. I like to think that most of a coaches waking hours are focused on getting talented people to do things they don’t want to do so they might win football games.

A shepherd’s life is also about discipline in study, training, practice, and excellence in execution. However, in contrast to a winning football coach, much of a shepherd’s daily effort is focused on responding to issues of questionable urgency rather than leading and developing disciples of Jesus and getting people to do things they don’t want to do so they might win the prize of life.

Should a shepherd expect honors and accolades?

Jesus tells us that the obedient servant who lives out the will of God can expect these honoring words,
“Well done, good and faithful servant!” Matthew 25:21 (NIV)

Take a few moments today and join me in praying for the shepherds in your life, send them a note of encouragement, and when you see them next, thank them personally for their obedience to God and service to you.

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