Influence is a Trust

Michael Manuel, our Clinton Campus Pastor, did a great job of leading us today through the second message in the “Life on Loan” Series. Michael challenged us from Matthew 5:14-16 today to use our influence wisely. You can watch it by clicking here.

I was reminded today that our influence is a trust. It must be managed, built, and stewarded over the long haul. We challenge our staff with this thought often. One of our staff values actually says it like this:

“We believe that our influence is a trust extended to us from the people that we lead. We expect our team to make wise choices in regard to their personal lives and in their leadership. We value the effective stewardship of the trust given to us by our Body.”

Perhaps the greatest gifts that a church can give it’s leadership is trust. But that trust has to be merited by leadership that lives with a bigger picture in mind (God’s glory) and a walk that has integrity. In regard to earning that trust we aren’t talking about perfection or unrealistic expectations (which many people have of their pastors), but we are talking about church leadership that has pure motives and takes their calling to shepherd and lead serious. The Bible says it like this in Hebrews 13:17:

” Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.“

What a verse! It says that the church is to joyfully entrust (no grief please!) their pastors with influence and submission and that the leadership faithfully watches over those souls in their care. Its an amazing exchange that comes from a kingdom perspective. That exchange comes with the reminder that the pastor will give an account to God himself for his spiritual leadership of the body.

Influence is a trust that is given. I pray often that our staff (especially me!) and Elders will earn the right to influence our Body at Pinelake by living well. I pray that we would make wise choices and value the incredible freedom that our people have given to us. We will certainly make mistakes, but I hope that humility and grace will be our posture before God and our people when those mistakes happen. And I pray that God would bless our people through our staff’s ministry as we steward wisely our influence.