Life, Love and Work

“For no matter what we achieve, if we don’t spend
the vast majority of our time with people we love and respect,
we cannot possibly have a great life.”
– Jim Collins, Good To Great

Every now and then I get asked if I would ever leave the church I currently serve. I don’t know the motives behind the question but I’d like to think that due to my superhuman ability to exposit God’s Word, razor-sharp leadership skills and theologically encyclopedic mind they know it’s only a matter of time ’til the ship sails to the land of being a Lead Pastor. (yes, the tongue is firmly planted in cheek) The hard truth is probably they can’t wait for me to leave.

One of the reasons I feel so strongly about where I serve and why it would be hard for me to ever leave is the leadership team I’m a part of. Life is too short to work with others you don’t like, can’t get along with or generally don’t respect or admire. Fortunately, this has not been my lot. There is no question that God’s grace has been rich to me in this area of my life because I truly feel I serve with the greatest guys on the face of the planet. I not only like, admire and respect these guys…I love ‘em! While teaching the Bible, leading others and influencing the direction of the church are activities that “fill my cup” personally and professionally, it’s “doing life with the ones you love” that seals the deal for what I do and where I do it.

If you don’t love those with whom you lead I have a word of advice. Quit. Start a church, business, whatever and get a team around you that you can love deeply and they can deeply love you. While some of us couldn’t seriously follow through with that there are some of us who can…and should.

Let me repeat. As far as God enables you to do so, do life with the ones you love. Life is too short to suffer any less.