The Seventh "C"

So we come to the end of our little excursion into a study of Christian leadership. We have looked at the topics 

• 1.  Calling
• 2.    Cost
• 3.    Commitment
• 4.    Confidentiality
• 5.    Communication
• 6.    Cooperation

Today we take a peak at the final C of the "Seven Cs of Christian Leadership": Completion.

We already pondered the concept of Commitment. When we say we will do a job, we should see to it that it is done, unless we are providentially hindered.  In 2 Corinthians 8:10-11, the Apostle Paul wrote, 

10 And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it.11So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 

Paul wanted the Corinthians to finish the good work they had started. He also gave us the ultimate example of the need and desire to finish well. This is found in Philippians 1:3-6. 

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,

4always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.6And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Here are just a couple of tips as to how to get this done.


Ask for help. I know we all like to think we can manage on our own, but sometimes we need help with our commitments, if we are going to carry them out. And when we ask for help we need to be able to let the other person or persons do what it is we asked. In other words, we need to be able to delegate - and trust those to whom we delegate. I love the advice Moses' Father-in-Law, Jethro, gives him in Exodus 18:13-18. 

13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening.

14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, "What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?"

15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, "Because the people come to me to inquire of God;

16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws."

17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good.

18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone.

Sometimes a job, a committee, a program needs to carry on to completion, even if we are not there to do it. There are some things that we can all do to make sure the work of the Gospel is being carried on

Pass the baton. This is not the same as quitting. Sometimes, we just are not the one for that particular job. That doesn’t mean that God’s done with us and there is no job for us…. Consider Elijah and Elisha.

1 Kings 19:19. Elijah had been the Lord’s prophet. He had battled the prophets of Baal and the Lord had shown Himself through Elijah’s ministry. Now it was time for Elijah to leave. He was sent to find his replacement: Elisha, and he put his cloak over him. This was the mantle of leadership. But he didn’t just walk away.

1 Kings 19:21. He became Elijah’s attendant. He was working under him and learning from him. Elijah was passing on his knowledge and experience. We do not just say, “OK, I’m done,” and walk away. We need to train up the next generation of leadership, through hands-on apprenticeship. Bring them in; give them tasks; show them how to do the tasks; then ask them; As Elijah did:

"Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you."  (2 Kings 2:9).

Conclusion: Leadership is the job of all Christians. We all lead somebody, by word and/or deed. We have been called and we have been given gifts. 

As Paul wrote in Romans 11:29….

“God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.”