It is never too early to become a leader.
God determines our time, location and circumstances (Acts 17:26). God also knits us together in our mother’s wombs and gives us certain talents that we are called to use for His kingdom (Ps. 139:13, Matt. 25:14-30).
When you and I understand that God is in control and is inviting us into the bigger picture of His mission, we will want to be leaders where He has us.
Something that we say at City Church Youth is that we are “a ministry with you, not for you.” What we mean by that is that we believe that every Christian, regardless of age, is called to be a “minister” and a leader.
Whether on your campus, around your neighborhood, or in your home, God has given you a certain mission field and has called you to lead others to Christ.
So what’s the hold up? Here are a few excuses we tell ourselves...
I will do it later.
In the book of Proverbs King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live (LINK 1 Kings 4:30), passed along good advice to his son. All wisdom and truth belongs to God, and all followers of Christ should care about walking the way of the wise. In Proverbs 27:1 Solomon tells his son, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” James warns us that our lives are “mist” and that we “don’t know what tomorrow will bring” (James 4:14). Circumstances can change overnight. When it comes down to it, none of us are promised tomorrow, and we are all called to lead today.
2. I am not smart/old/good enough.
Leading people to Christ is not about your age, or your IQ, or your record. God used young leaders like Josiah all throughout the Bible. Jesus’ disciples were blue collar workers who likely didn’t have the best grades in school, and the apostle Paul had a record that would make most inmates blush. God calls people from all different ages and walks of life to join Him in His mission. When it comes down to it, if you are following Jesus, you can lead someone to Him.
3. God doesn’t need me.
You are right. God does not need us to be leaders. That’s true. He is a big God and “is not served by human hands” (Acts 17:5). HOWEVER, God invites us into what He is doing, not because He needs us, but because He loves us and in His mission He has chosen to use broken people to be a part of big things. When it comes down to it, when we understand that God doesn’t need us to be leaders, but He invites us to join Him in what He is doing, we should have excitement and passion about that.
If you are in Christ it is time for you to start leading TODAY. There is no need to wait. There is no need to sit on the sidelines, or tell yourself “someone else will do it.” Begin to be on mission wherever God has placed you.