Behind the Curtain

When we show up with Mission Lazarus, we have a few local leaders running the show, and we are there to do the work under their guidance. Whatever the task, they show us, we do it, and they inspect it, making corrections as needed and letting the team do what they came to do. The result is a fulfilling trip and a project with integrity. Impact all around. The key is to equip the team with the knowledge of what to do, the skills to do it, and then an inspection to make sure it is being done correctly. Nobody should walk across a bridge assembled by a bunch of first-timers without a detailed inspection. That is how people get hurt.

"And the Lord replied, 'A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. But what if the servant thinks, 'My master won't be back for a while,' and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk?" (Luke 12:42-45)

If you want to grow people, give them responsibilities that require growth. Show them what to do, give them some latitude to do it, and then inspect their work carefully, make adjustments as needed along the way. If you don't inspect the work and just take their word for it, you will most likely get a mess that is hard to clean up. I have learned this hard lesson far too often.

Trusting your people is essential for building a high-performing team. 

Equipping and trusting your children is essential for building high-performing adults. Each new season brings new learning, so the process doesn't end. That is why we have to grow as leaders as well. Part of loving others is checking their work and offering feedback. Ignorance or apathy is not love. After Jesus freed the adulterous woman from her accusers and offered her grace, he lovingly offered correction. He inspected her work and said, "You are loved, and you can do better. Now go and sin no more."

Don't stay away so long that a party erupts where order should be. Diligently know the state of your flocks and see it with your own eyes. Your people and children tell you what you want to hear, so look behind the curtain often and make sure to see for yourself.