A TIME TO SERVE AND A TIME TO GIVE WAY - BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES FOR CHRISTIAN SERVICE AND MENTORSHIP
By Ezekiel Kimosop
A retired preacher once proclaimed in a meeting: "I may be retired but I am not tired!" A bout of laughter intermittently rang out through the meeting in a light moment!
The retired minister had stepped down from church leadership after striking the mandatory 70 year retirement age prescribed under the regulations of his church. He however went on to serve in a small church congregation in his home neighborhood on a voluntary basis.
This begs the all important question: When should one retire from church ministry or any other leadership platform? Is there a suitable numerical age for bowing out of ministry or other leadership positions?
The writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes wrote that there is time for everything under the sun. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven" (NKJV).
The writer goes on to outline a number of illustrations that serve to underscore his theological prudence on the changing seasons of life (see Ecclesiastes 3:2-8).
Yes, there is time for us to fulfill God's purposes in our lives and a time to move on to the next dispensation that God has prepared for us. Acts 13:22 attests to this truth in the context of David's ministry as king over Israel.
Retired ministers or leaders should not vanish into thin air under retirement. They should be accessible to their congregations or succeeding leaders in order to offer valuable leadership prudence that befits their stature and wisdom.
No matter how much one is seized with an unquenchable passion for God's work or leadership service, there is a time and age when he must slow down and take on a lighter task regime in the church or organization. This level of resourcefulness is not necessarily about preaching every Sunday or holding high office or directing others. It is an opportunity for offering genuine mentorship and spiritual direction to those under them.
There also comes a time when one should accept that others can do things differently and perhaps better and with stronger vigor than they had ever done. This is the time to give way for others to drive the ministry or leadership effort to new horizons.
There are Christian leaders today who are in their sunset years and are still struggling to lead their congregations, communions or organizations that they founded several decades dating perhaps as far back as 1960s and 1970s. My view is that these men and women did things right except for one cardinal flaw - they failed to adequately prepare their churches or organizations for the time when their strength would fail them; when the younger generation should step into their shoes! They ought to have mentored other younger leaders to whom to hand over the reigns of ministry or leadership when the time comes.
This phenomenon is not restricted to Christian settings only. It applies to all management and leadership spectrums including business and political spheres. Some political leaders have ruled their countries for decades not because they are popular but because they are autocratic and are unwilling to allow others to step into their shoes. They manipulate the political system in order to prevent any successor rising up in their time! Some of these leaders eventually precipitate violent succession battles and needless loss of lives before they finally exit the stage. Some countries have run into political and economic ruin as a result of leaders failing to give way to the next generation.
Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 describes the struggles associated with old age. Notice the somber mood flowing through the passage. Age comes with its natural difficulties such as loss of strength and creativity. Besides, the generational transitions come with a new look, a new worldview and an opportunity for introspection that the old mind is incapable of articulating.
The passage of Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 reminds us about the virtue of remembering God in the days of our youth. However, one overarching moral principle that we can deduce from the passage is the importance of timing in life. Succession planning for ministry should be done early in life. Someone once said that failing to plan is planning to fail.
Scripture is replete with illustrations of great leaders who managed their successions effectively and left a lasting legacy. Moses gave way to Joshua the son of Nun, having adequately prepared him in leadership. Joshua was among the twelve chosen men who went to spy the Land of Canaan (see Numbers 13). Joshua and Caleb courageously stood out on God's side, insisting that the Israelites could take the land because God was on their side. God approved the two men as heroes of their generation. The two went down in Biblical history as the only people that made it from Egypt to the promised land. The rest perished in the wilderness because of their rebellion and unbelief.
At God's appointed time, Moses handed over the leadership of God's people to Joshua. Nothing in Scripture suggests that Moses was too old or too tired to serve at that point, even though he was fairly advanced in years. He died at 120 years of age. Here's how his age is revealed in Scripture: Moses fled the Egyptian palace at 40. God called and commissioned him at 80 and he led Israel for 40 years through the wilderness (Acts 7:17-36). The overriding factor in Moses' transition was that God forbade him from crossing the Jordan because of his previous transgression in the wilderness of Meribah Kadesh that God, in the exercise of His divine discretion, declined to withdraw against his charge (Deuteronomy 32:48-52). Moses is however celebrated as a great leader of unsurpassed greatness in Israel (see the tribute in Numbers 12:3).
Similarly, Aaron handed over the priesthood to Eleazar his son (Numbers 20:22-29). The two transitions were successful and honorable.
Elsewhere in Scripture, we learn that prophet Elijah prepared Elisha son of Shaphat to take up the prophetic mantle and finally left the ministry in Elisha's hands as he mounted the chariot of fire to heaven (1 Kings 19:19-21; 2 Kings 2). Elisha went on to achieve greater exploits than his predecessor had done. He performed twice as many miracles as Elijah had done. This was an exemplary and progressive transition.
In the New Testament Scripture, we learn that Jesus prepared His disciples during His earthly ministry. He often reminded them of His coming departure. He finally left the ministry in their hands as He went to the cross and later ascended to heaven. He however prayed the Father for the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who indwelt and strengthened the disciples in advancing the gospel effort (see John 14:15-24).
Paul raised Timothy and other young men in ministry. Timothy took over the Ephesus church after Paul's martyrdom (see. Acts 16:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:10; 4:7-8). Paul's mentorship of Timothy is affirmed under one pregnant statement in 2 Timothy 3:10 that says "But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance." (NKJV).
Paul was satisfied that Timothy had demonstrated diligence in ministry mentorship and was able to proceed with the work of God even in his absence. He had prepared him well.
CONCLUSION
Great leaders prepare and approve others to take their mantle when their time of departure comes and when their strength declines. They do not relish holding back or stifling skillful talent in the ministry or workplace as some do. They are also not given to power, money or social influence. Their stewardship mandate is uppermost in their minds even as they advance in years. They do not consider the church as personal property or family investment but a platform for touching and transforming lives for God's glory. Founders do not own or possess the congregation or organizations but are merely stewards of God's grace who will hand over to others at the appointed time (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2). Christ alone is the exclusive owner of the church. He purchased it with His sinless blood (Acts 20:28-29; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Leadership development and mentorship remains a critical factor for any successful organization or society. The Joshua generation appears to have failed to raise leaders in their time and the consequences of their lapses are plainly outlined in Scripture. Judges 2:7-10 says "Now Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died when he was one hundred and ten years old. 9 And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at Timnath Heres, in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash. 10 When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel."
Notice the import of the statement in Judges 2:10.
How is it that a godly generation could be succeeded by an evil or fallen generation "who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel"? Where did the disconnect arise between the two generations?
The first part of the statement of Judges 2:10 is perhaps suggestive of poor religious instruction on the post Joshua generation while the second one reveals a broken oral and religious heritage.
I would suggest two ways by which to interpret the statement. First, we can infer that the succeeding generation was not adequately prepared or mentored in the things of God. They lacked strong spiritual leaders that could shape and inculcate godly prudence in their generation.
Alternatively, the Joshua generation did their best to prepare the people but the influence of Canaanite culture and idolatrous practices took a toll on them as they settled in the promised land. This is affirmed in Judges 2:1-4. It is also possible that a combination of the two factors came into play in that the Joshua generation failed in several respects in incubating godly leadership and direction and the impact of the Canaanite culture drove the last nail on the moral decay of Israel.
MORAL LESSONS
So what moral lessons can we draw from the above passages? I wish propose six lessons which I will outline below:
1. Godly leadership must inspire the succeeding generation to maintain the virtues and values of their spiritual heritage. Samuel faithfully fulfilled this task (see 2 Chronicles 35:18 on the tribute to Samuel the prophet).
2. Mentorship is a deliberate task that should be consciously undertaken and progressively measured before it is approved. It requires time and patience to achieve.
3. There's no perfect leadership under the sun. The greatest leaders in biblical history had their share of weaknesses or flaws. David was a great warrior who by God's grace ascended to the throne but he too had his lowest moments recorded in Scripture.
4. Leadership is for an appointed time. We cannot outlive our mandate. Those serving in church ministry or other organizations should recognize the timelines into which their stewardship falls and should prepare to hand over the mandate when the time comes. In my Nilotic Kalenjin community, we say that the elder's staff [a symbol of leadership] must pass to the next generation when the time comes. It never goes backwards and neither is it controlled by one generation beyond its time.
5. Leadership is a privilege from God (Psalm 75:1-8). We serve at God's pleasure and will be accountable to Him for our acts and omissions (cf. 1 Peter 5:1-4).
6. God is the ultimate arbiter on the quality and moral standing of leadership. No matter how gifted a leader is, God alone sees the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 says in part "...For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (cf. Jeremiah 17:9-10).
Shalom
© Ezekiel Kimosop 2022
