Bible Bite
October 14, 2009
www.heaven4sure.com
Performance on the Hot Seat
The last place most people choose to be is on the hot seat. Open mike segments in any meeting are nerve racking. The handlers of politicians try to screen the questions or discreetly control the mike. Business leaders, in an effort to run a transparent workplace, convene their bull pit sessions. Employees are often afraid to ask the tough questions, fearing the boss will black list them for making them squirm on the hot seat.
Samuel had led the people of God for years. It hadn’t always been easy and the people he was leading were not always happy-campers. They had some performance issues and a tendency to stray. But still, Samuel year after year provided leadership as directed by the Lord. Now his hair is gray and the wrinkles are surfacing. He stands before the people to make his address.
Will he have an open-mike segment? Will he take the hot seat? Will he step into the bull pit and allow them to throw up the dirt they have on him? Will he allow them to challenge the choices and decisions he has made?
“.I am old and gray;
.I have walked before you from my youth until this day.
Here I am;
testify against me before the LORD.
Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken?
Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed?
Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it?
Testify against me and I will restore it to you.”
They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man’s hand.” And he said to them,
“The LORD is witness against you.that you have not found anything in my hand.”
And they said, “He is witness.”
(1Samuel 12:2-5)
Only leaders with a clear conscience would invite such questions. Samuel was willing to have the people scrutinize his track record. He didn’t have a team of henchmen wearing shades and recording the names of people who dared to ask the tough questions. And there were no intimidation tactics to suppress criticisms or to zip lips.
“Have I ever done anything to benefit myself at your expense? Did I ever take anything from you for selfish gain? Did I ever try to put any of you down? Did I have an ulterior motive in any of the decisions I made? Did I take a secret bribe from any? Now is your chance. If you are harboring any gripes against me, even if they’re old ones, here I am. Bring it up now and I will respond.”
What a leader! Only a leader with the confidence of a clear conscience would be willing to have such an open-mike session. Only leaders who have been doing their job and have been above-board in their dealings would be willing to step into the bull pit and invite people to ask the ‘hard’ questions.
When the Apostle Paul was under attack by false teachers and those they had befriended, he didn’t cower in fear thinking they might be able to nail something on him. As you read through 2Corinthians you’ll see that his conscience was absolutely clear. He had nothing to hide.
As Christians we are all to be leaders – leading people out of darkness into light. Our lives are to be blameless. And then, there are elders, teachers and evangelists who assume a public role – they too are to have a clean track record.
Samuel had a life to back him up. Credibility and respect is not something you demand from people; it is something you earn over time.
Would you be willing to allow people to ask the hard questions about your performance? Would you convene an open session or sit on the hot seat to listen to the people you are seeking to lead? If you are not yet a leader, would you like to be a leader like Samuel?
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ
Peter Ramsay