Many leadership programs create the tyranny of the urgent, which seems to result in poor decision-making. But the New Testament reveals a correlation between the depth and breadth of spiritual composure and a person’s integrity. Am I off track? And if not, what does the concept of Sabbath mean in this context?
Anyone who has served in a leadership position has been tempted to give priority to the currently ringing phone, the latest e-mail, the person standing in the office, or the task at the top of the “to do” list. Unfortunately, as you have pointed out, addressing only the most urgent — or irritating — concern often ignores the bigger picture and leads to poor decision-making. The struggle for leaders is to balance serving the immediate need with serving the long-term kingdom goal.
Jesus provides a particularly clear picture of this dilemma in Mark 6. The disciples, having been busy about the work Jesus had assigned, returned to Jesus, who gave them instruction to come away and get some rest. When the disciples got on the boat to get away, the people recognized them and hurried ahead to meet them with requests in hand. Sound familiar? Jesus saw their need, had compassion and began to teach, even though he had instructed the disciples the day ahead was reserved for rest.
Sometimes, the most urgent and immediate need really is the one that deserves our attention. However, serving the most immediate need as appropriate does not give us a free pass from taking time to ground ourselves in Scripture, in the presence of the Holy Spirit or in God’s wisdom. Only when we have taken time to attend to the “depth and breadth of spiritual composure” are we able to discern whether the urgent request in front of us really demands our utmost attention.
The concept of Sabbath does help us keep these realities in check. The Sabbath day was not merely intended as a day for sleeping in or playing catch-up from over-exerting on the previous six days. Part of keeping the Sabbath entails returning to a place of worship of our Creator and Sustainer so that we put our own abilities in proper view. Once we understand that we needn’t try to play God’s role as well as our own, we are far better able to assess the value of committing time to the urgent request ahead.
Worship and rest as intended in the concept of Sabbath leads to renewed recognition that we cannot fix everything or save everyone and reminds us which requests are better left to God and brings a freedom to selectively choose those things we address. When we are in a place of submitting to God’s will — of sacrificing our own lives and agendas — we are far better able to make decisions in line with God’s wisdom (Romans 12:1-2).
Emily Row Prevost is associate director of the Center for Effective Leadership at the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Right or Wrong? is sponsored by the T.B. Maston Chair of Christian Ethics at Hardin-Simmons University’s Logsdon School of Theology. Contributors include Baptists in Virginia, Texas, Missouri and other states. Send your questions about how to apply your faith to btillman@hsutx.edu.