When it comes to our churches, businesses, and ministries, we should want to pursue excellence, but never to the point that projects begin to matter more than the people we lead.
I recently had a conversation surrounding this topic with Pastor Jarrett McNeely on Episode 3 of the Leadership Culture Matters podcast series: People Matter Most. Because of his position as the Connections Pastor at the church where I lead, Jarrett felt like the perfect person to discuss loving and shepherding the people you lead well. We have worked hard to create a culture of leadership at our church that says our projects, our agendas, and our plans do not override people, but rather, they are there to serve us as we serve people.
As we talked, four key reminders came up that I want to share with you today.
1 - PEOPLE MATTER MOST TO US BECAUSE THEY MATTER MOST TO JESUS.
When I asked Jarret what first comes to mind concerning people mattering most, he pointed out how Jesus considered and provided more for people than anything else in His creation.
Scripture tells us that the fallen angels did not receive redemption, and while the earth one day will be destroyed and remade, it’s people He came to redeem. We cannot miss the care and compassion of Jesus as He invested in people, even through His death on the cross. If He valued people that much, how can we not value them deeply, as well?
Certainly, we all have tasks to perform and matters of great importance on our plates each day. But we cannot forget that we are designed to help and encourage one another. We are built for a relationship with Jesus and each other.
2 - EXCELLENCE CAN BE OUR ENEMY.
People often say they want to foster a culture that chases excellence. But when this pursuit causes us to forget people, excellence can be our enemy.
Jarrett pointed out how we live in a time when people use social media to try to prove their effectiveness. But the one-on-one conversations we have with people in the grocery store or wherever we may be are not going to be the kinds of things we make the headlines for. We have got to get back to where it really does not matter if we are making headlines. What matters is if we are making a difference in the Kingdom.
I remind my staff and congregation often that the most important person is the person in front of you. Be fully present with whoever God gives you the opportunity to influence in that moment. And as Jarrett added, know that this takes intentionality. Jesus was intentional in His conversations, and we must fight to make the most of our conversations.
3 - WE LOVE THE PEOPLE WHO DON’T LIKE US.
Of course, being a leader does not guarantee everyone will like you, even if you sincerely strive to do things well. A lot of us find this truth out pretty quickly, but that does not change our call to love the people we lead, even the ones who don't like us.
Again, Jarrett points us to the example of Christ. Even if a person did not care for Jesus, He still cared for that person. We must continue to view others through the lens of Jesus and not take what they say or do personally. If we stay in tune with the Holy Spirit, walking daily with Him, we will see people rightly, and we will be able to love even when that love is not reciprocated.
Our love for people must be rooted in Christ's love for us. If my love is rooted in my ability, it will be pretty limited. If it's rooted in people's ability to earn or deserve my love, it will be incredibly shallow. But if I fathom His love for me, then, even in the most trying situations, I can ask what love and kindness would demand of me.
4 - GOOD SHEPHERDS PAY ATTENTION.
Ultimately, we need to be sure we are shepherding like Jesus.
I love the shepherding metaphor that runs all through Scripture. Shepherds lead, care for, protect, feed, comfort, and offer medical care to their sheep. Shepherds know their needs because they are with their sheep. There are times when a shepherd is out front, and the sheep are following. There are times when he is behind them, pushing them forward. He may have to bump one on the rump with his staff to say, “This is the way we go.” Then, there are times when he is right in the middle of them. But no matter where the shepherd is, he is paying attention to the needs of his flock.
So, too, must effective leaders pay attention. That does not mean letting the opinions or moods of the people dictate the direction of an entire organization. But high-level leaders stay alert and attentive. They ask questions like: What do my people need? What are they not getting? What can I do for them? How can I clearly lead them?
As we wrap up today, I want to challenge you to honestly ask yourself these questions:
- What would those I lead say matters most to me- people or programs?
- Do I have a heart to serve them, or am I slipping into a place of simply using them to accomplish my plans and purposes?
For more help and encouragement surrounding this topic, listen to our full conversation Leadership Culture Matters, Episode 3: People Matter Most ft. Pastor Jarrett McNeely here.