This time last year I was in the process of buying my first home. To describe me as "overwhelmed" during that time is an understatement. I was clueless about loans, insurance, inspections, and closings. Through God's grace, I was able to buy the house and enjoy it over the past eleven months. My parents did a ton of little repairs when I first moved in, and since that point, I've had to do very little. However, this past tuesday, I experienced what owning a house often brings... plumbing problems! One of my sinks decided it was not going to drain properly, so I set out to become "Rhodes, the Roto Rooter." My first step was to call my dad. Yep, I'm 25 and not ashamed to admit that I need dad's help. I'd be dumb not to call a man that can fix everything. You know when you're a kid and you think your dad can do everything. Well, that thought for me never changed. My dad is awesome! I've called him at least a dozen times since saturday. (My lawn mower broke saturday then the sink stopped up tuesday.) Anyway, I call dad first, and he gave me several options. Options 1,2, and 3 did not work, so I'm currently on option 4. Option 4 is using a plumbing snake, and frankly, I've yet to fix the problem! But I'm not going to give up yet.
Since this plumbing issue arose, I've thought to myself several times: "I hate owning a house that has problems." I don't have the experience or expertise my dad was gifted with in the maintenance realm, and I often wish my dad just lived eleven hours closer to me to fix the problem. This week has been a good reminder that ownership brings responsibility. If I was still renting, I wouldn't be under the sink unscrewing pipes and using plumbing snakes. I'd be telling the owner of the house there was a problem. But now, it's my house and my responsibility to fix problems when they arise.
This same principle applies to ministry leaders. When God calls us to lead a ministry, we must take ownership, and ownership brings responsibility. Here's the cool thing: When problems arise, we have a Dad who has so much more experience and expertise than us. Where is the first place you go to solve problems in ministry? Do you call your wife? Do you text your seminary professor? Do you twitter your problem? Do you send your college roommate a Facebook message? Do you complain to your other leaders? Or do you seek God first? It's easy to complain, gossip and be pragmatic when problems arise. It's often hard to humble ourselves as leaders, especially guy leaders, and admit we need help from God. But we do! We know it! Responsible ownership means taking care of problems as soon as possible. Responsible ownership also means calling on someone who knows more than you to fix the problem.
