The Paradox of Investing in Others: How Passing the Torch Makes You Burn More Brightly

It seems counterintuitive, but the more you replicate yourself, the greater your job security. Contrary to the belief that “You’re going to work yourself out of a job,” the exact opposite is true in the Kingdom of God. In fact, the more that you take the time to invest in those around you and help train them to be successful, the more your job security increases. I’ve found this to be true time and time again.

"Contrary to the belief that “You’re going to work yourself out of a job,” the exact opposite is true in the Kingdom of God. In fact, the more you help train others to be successful, the more your job security increases."

When you derive your value from who God says that you are and what He’s called you to, you can rest in His leadership and trust in His timing when it comes to promotion and even sometimes, demotion. Our natural response to seeing others equipped to do what we’re doing is insecurity. But as with many things in God’s economy, the reality is giving others preference comes back to bless you.

For the past 15 years, I’ve had an average of six other worship leaders on my team in addition to myself at any given point in time. Maybe one or two of them were “in training” and not ready to lead an entire team on their own, but I’ve always had three or four others who were just as good as I am at leading worship. These are people I am intentionally pouring into and seeking to equip and encourage in leadership abilities.

"When you derive your value from who God says that you are and what He’s called you to, you can rest in His leadership and trust in His timing when it comes to promotion and even sometimes, demotion."

How many worship leaders are on your team who you’re training and giving opportunities to lead and grow? If you don’t have any, you need to find some!I’ll even go as far as to say that if you don’t have anyone else who you’re sowing into, your time as a worship leader is ticking. When you’re not giving to others what you’ve been given, things get out of balance. You become self-obsessed and stagnant. Think of a pond that has no outlet. The water just sits and becomes murky and stale. You want to be a lake that water flows in and out of. As the Lord pours gifts, talents, ideas, and opportunities into you, He wants you, in turn, to have little tributaries where the things He has blessed you with flow out of your life and into the lives of others.

"By neglecting to train, serve, bless, and build up others, what you have is going to have a tendency to become stagnant, dull, and lifeless. We were meant to be channels for the Lord to flow through, not pools of standing water."

By neglecting to train, serve, bless, and build up others, what you have is going to have a tendency to become stagnant, dull, and lifeless. We were meant to be channels for the Lord to flow through, not pools of standing water. Just as standing water attracts bacteria, mold, and parasites, our own lives tend to become unhealthy when we can’t see or reach beyond ourselves.You don’t want to just take in and never give out.

Never stop replicating yourself and sowing into others. Seek to have your ceiling be the floor of those you're leading and try your absolute best to make other people better than yourself. Leadership doesn’t bask in its own greatness; it inspires greatness in others. A great leader is someone who doesn't just focus on his own excellence, but also seeks to make others better.I’d love to hear your thoughts on this! Comment below.

"As the Lord pours gifts, talents, ideas, and opportunities into you, He wants you, in turn, to have little tributaries where the things He has blessed you with flow out of your life and into the lives of others."

SOME GREAT BIBLE VERSES TO PRAY REGARDING THIS TOPIC:

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. (Phil. 2:3)

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful (1 Cor 13:4-5)

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (Rom. 12:10)

Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others. (Phil 2:4)

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

"Never stop replicating yourself and sowing into others. Seek to have your ceiling be the floor of those you're leading and try your absolute best to make other people better than yourself."

Huge thanks to my friend Jordan Vanderplate for letting me use this photo of Banff National Park. Check out more of his work here.

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