10月10日

標 題：領袖與經理人

經 節：耶和華對撒母耳說：「百姓向你說的一切話，你只管依從；因為他們不是厭棄你，乃是厭棄我，不要我作他們的王。」（撒母耳記上八章7節）

以色列從前是與眾不同的國家，其他國家都有國王或統治者，而以色列的王是神自己！以色列百姓抱怨，想和其他國家一樣有地上的統治者！讀到這段歷史時，我們很希奇他們的愚蠢，其實我們很容易犯同樣毛病，選擇自己的智慧高過神的領導。

當今在領袖與管理的課題上有許多研討。廣為流傳的教導是認為領袖要有異象，能為百姓或機構設立目標，讓大家遵循；管理者的工作則是每日安排他手上所有的資源、財力。在基督徒的生活中，神是我們的生活、我們的家庭、我們教會的領袖。神設立方向，訂立生活優先順序，神也供應我們所需。我們是管理者，使用祂所賜的資源，做祂要我們做的事。

在聖經中稱領袖是「主」。主耶穌有權柄啟示我們生活的方向。祂以主的身分訂立我們的生涯規劃，帶領我們認識婚姻的伴侶，幫助我們設立每日作息的優先順序。我們要做祂所賜予之靈魂體的好管家。祂是我們的一家之主，知道甚麼對孩子最好，也知道如何使婚姻堅韌。我們的責任是在祂帶領我們創建基督化家庭時，要順服祂。基督是教會的主，擴展教會是祂的責任。只有祂知道甚麼對教會最好，我們的任務是忠實地實行祂要我們運行的角色。

不要愚昧地相信人類的智慧和人類的領導，就像那些以色列人一樣。跟隨主，並且單單地信任祂。

Leaders and Managers

And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them." (1 Samuel 8:7)

The Israelites were to be a nation unlike any other. Every other nation had a king or ruler, but Israel’s king was to be God Himself! Still, the Israelites complained that they wanted to be like other nations and have an earthly ruler! As we read about the Israelites, we marvel at their foolishness. Yet we are prone to make the same mistake, choosing our human wisdom over God’s leadership.

There is much discussion these days about leaders and managers. According to popular teaching, leaders have the vision and set goals for people or organizations to follow. Managers handle the day-to-day marshaling of resources under their charge. In the Christian life, God is the leader of our lives, our families, and our churches. God sets the direction; He establishes the priorities; He provides the resources. We are the managers. We take what He gives us and do with it as He directs.

The biblical term for leader is Lord. As our Lord, Christ has the authority to reveal the direction for our lives. As Lord, He chooses our careers, leads us to our marriage partners, and helps us set our daily priorities. We are to be good managers of the mind, body, and spiritual life He gives. He is the Lord of our families. He knows what is best for our children. He knows how to make marriages strong. Our responsibility is to obey Him as He leads our families to Christlikeness. Christ is the Lord of our church. He takes responsibility for expanding it (Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 12:18). Only He knows what is best for our church. Our task is to faithfully perform the role He assigns us.

Do not foolishly trust in human wisdom and leadership as the Israelites did. Follow your Lord and trust Him alone.