Every leader needs to decide whether we see serving as a blessing or a burden.  Yes, our joy in ministry is at stake.  But there’s something even more significant on the line – our ability to perform the fundamental task of leadership.  To put it simply, we will never be good leaders until we start seeing serving as a blessing, not a burden.

The fundamental task of leadership is asking others to work with us to accomplish a goal.  We pick a direction, formulate a plan and inspire others to join us.  It doesn’t matter how great our vision and plan is, if people aren’t following us, we aren’t leading.

Most leaders in the church struggle with asking others to join our teams.  We don’t want to be overbearing, we don’t want to inconvenience people, we don’t want to bother people and we’re afraid they’re just going to say no anyway.  So, we suck it up and get the job done ourselves, silently resenting the idle hands sitting right next to us.

We don’t ask because we see serving as a burden.

But the Scriptures tell us the exact opposite.  Consider Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  God has already prepared good works for every single follower of Jesus.  In other words, we are designed to serve.  It’s how we come alive as disciples of Jesus.  So, leaders, when we ask someone to serve on our teams, we’re blessing them.  We’re inviting them to be fully alive.

Do we really believe that? Or am I trying to spin burden into blessing?  Our leadership credibility depends on how we answer that question.

Most Christians never experience the joy Paul writes about in Colossians 1:29, “For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”  Want to know what it feels like to have the power of God working mightily through you?  Then serve!  You’re never going to experience it on the sidelines of the church – it’s only available to those who are in the game.

Leaders, it’s our job to get people in the game.  When we ask someone to join our team, we’re blessing them with the opportunity to experience the power of God.  We dare not condemn people to joyless mediocrity because we won’t ask them to serve.

I genuinely want every single person at Restoration City to be serving in a meaningful capacity.  I don’t care if it’s through RCC Kids, Production, Connect, leading a Community Group, doing graphic design or serving outside of the church through one of our ministry partners.  All I care is that you get in the game.  It really is a blessing.

Leaders, we have the privilege of making this happen.  Ask people to serve.  Do it boldly, confidently and with joy.  We aren’t burdening, we’re blessing.