So last week I was visiting with someone about ministry and about where I see myself in a few years and they asked if I would fill out an assessment about my leadership style. I of course said yes, I think before he could get the words out of his mouth. I was so excited about the conversation and the future.
I want to learn, to grow and be ready to go. So when someone talks about teaching me in my calling I get so excited. We chatted for a few moments more and then we said our goodbyes and hung up the phone. My oldest son says I am going to be a student forever, and I am ok with that. Paul was a forever student.... and he did alright I guess. I think I would be in ok company...
Within minutes my phone dinged, it was the email with the link. I was so excited. I told myself that after dinner I would sit down and get it done. Mind you nothing may come of it and that's cool to, I had an opportunity to chat with someone who knew more about it than me, so I learned a little and that's a win. But I began to really think about something he said, "what kind of leader are you?". I have done assessment after assessment in the internship but have I ever really stopped to consider the kind of leader I WANT to be, not just the kind of leader I am.
So I asked myself that question. And the answer came back very odd, I don't know. I know there are some things I don't want to do as a leader.
I want to be a leader that makes leaders. One who builds others up and who can step back when it's time.
I wondered who I could look to so that I can learn from. What leader in the Bible could I reference? I did a little research, and the answer came with a real funny name..... Barnabas.
His name was Joseph but they called him Barnabas.
I know names were important back in that time, so to be given the name "son of encouragement" was kind of interesting to me. So like I do I began to dig. What did they mean when they said encouragement?
Encouragement: Console, exhort, comfort, admonish, develope.... I think for me to many time I think ... oh they say nice things and make me feel better... but that's not always the case. We can help someone grow and tell them things they may not like but it helps them in the long run. Kind of like when they set controlled burns to get rid of all the brush and clutter that is choking out growth. The wrong kind of growth can hurt, so they set it on fire to encourage new growth. The fire is hot and painful and it can destroy but when it's done deep green lush grass and beauty comes through. Encouragement may look different at times, it's not just cheers from the side, it may seem hard and painful to accept. It is so necessary though.
After a little time looking into the life of Barnabas you can clearly see it wasn't just a name it was who he was. He lived out a life of encouragement.
I love how we see him time and time again going head long into life and ready to lay it all down for the kingdom.
Like when....
He seeks out Saul who had been "that guy" that held the coats when Stephen was stoned to death. We see Barnabas seek him out to come alongside him and help him. Probably not the most exciting conversation one could have. Saul introduces himself to and Barnabas is like... "dude I know who you are, I know what you did.... and yet here I am ready to throw in with you to advance the kingdom, so let's do this". Obviously that's not exactly how that went down but you can imagine it would have been a little awkward maybe.
It begs the question... Who are you sticking your neck out for in order to advance the Kingdom? I feel like Saul was not the ideal candidate to throw in with... But that didn't stop Barnabas. Then he even gets cooler when it stopped being Barnabas and Paul and it flips to Paul and Barnabas. I don't think Barnabas found his identity in WHAT he did for Jesus and the kingdom but IN Jesus and who's he was. He didn't need to be out front because he knew it was about the kingdom not him. He wasn't clinging to a title or a position, he didn't need the credit, he needed the kingdom to grow. That also meant that he knew when it was time to step back so the mission could press on.
I love that we also see that when he knows it's time to change directions from Paul, he didn't stop, he kept moving forward with John Mark. Even though John Mark didn't do so well on round one Barnabas didn't give up on him.
I wonder how many times we give up on someone when they disappoint us, or don't live up to the standard we have of them in our mind. Or just because they are broken. Barnabas didn't. In fact by the end of it... Paul was asking for John Mark. Barnabas strikes again. He wasn't perfect he had his flaws but he never stopped working for the kingdom. There are no books in the bible with his name on them but he was there for Paul, and John Mark and look what came from them. I can't help but think that had Barnabas not been so faithful in his walk that things may have had a different look. Barnabas didn't lead from out front, he lead from the middle and I think that is exactly where he wanted to be. I don't think he would have wanted a book with his name on it. I don't think he would have wanted to be praised, I think he lived out his life doing just exactly what he was called to do, and found joy in knowing who's he was and who he was doing his work for.
I feel like the best way to describe Barnabas was slow and steady. He wasn't just looking at the short run, but the long game. I think of a guy that lived out his gift in God's will for his life and he did it from the back seat. He was a leader who knew that if you want to go fast you will go alone, but if you want to go far you go together. He was the leader who didn't say "I will do this and you just watch and try and catch what I am doing", I would bet he was the kind that said, "you take this and let me walk beside you", and I know that if you failed he would be there to say, "That didn't work out so well, try again." He would ask while you walk ...."So what did you learn from that? What would you do different next time?" ....
I know we aren't all a Barnabas kind of leader, but if I could choose the kind of leader I would want to be, it would be Barnabas. He was flawed for sure, but aren't we all? I don't want to give up on someone just because they don't do it like I do and I want to be open minded, there is more than one way to do things. I want people to find their way, to use the gifts God gave them and live fully in His will for their life, my way can't be their way because we aren't the same. I want to know when it's time for me to sit back and let them run, I will have no problem letting them run and clapping from the sideline. I don't need my name in lights, I need the kingdom to grow. I don't need the world to know me, I need the world to know my King! Barnabas knew when he was being called away from something in order for the kingdom to grow, and he was ok with that. He knew it wasn't all about him, and that we make mistakes and some folks will be harder to teach but we shouldn't walk away from them just because it's hard. Because he stayed, he invested, he allowed people to make mistakes and learn from it. He also learned from the people he invested in. I think you can learn from everyone, some people you just learn what you don't want to do or who you don't want to be like.
I think we can all use a little more Barnabas in our lives, with our kids, our family, at work, in whatever you do in life and I pray we all find a little Barnabas in the days ahead. The world could use more Barnabas I think!
Moving forward, I will strive to be more like Barnabas in every area of my life. Pray for me y'all!
~H
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