integrity of heart–skillful hands
As I read my Bible everyday I try to find one Scripture that I put on a 3 x 5 card and carry with me throughout the day. I reflect and meditate on this one Scripture throughout the day. Then I add it to a document that I put on my iphone called my “go to” Scriptures.
On Saturday I read a Scripture that I felt like was my first time reading it. I have read it hundreds of other times. But, for some reason this Scripture jumped off the page and made me think and ask myself some gut wrenching questions.
I love the Scripture. I love how practical the Bible is.
Psalms 78:72
“And David Shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them”
I love how simple, concise and profound this Scripture is. The problem in ministry so many don’t understand we need both–a heart filled with integrity and skillful hands. If we lack one of these we will hinder our leadership.
A heart of integrity
- Do you have a heart filled with integrity?
- Does your heart desire to be like Jesus?
- Are there any hints of bitterness in your heart?
- Do you have any hints of sexual garbage in your heart?
- How is your heart?
- When you miss a day or two with Jesus, does your heart miss it?
- Do you exaggerate numbers, stories, facts—is your heart filled with integrity?
- How is your prayer life?
- When is the last time you cried?
- When is the last time you laughed?
- When is the last time you gave?
- Do you care more about position than the mission of God?
- Are you a servant?
- Are you teachable?
What other questions would be good to add to this list?
Skillful hands
Many people think all we need is God in ministry. We can’t do ministry without the supernatural. We also need skillful hands. God gives us skillful hands. Here is the deal–I hate flying. When I fly I would be scared to death if the pilot said, “I have a good heart–but really don’t know how to fly”. I don’t care if the pilot is cussing—my question is do you have the skill to fly this plane? For sure pastoral leadership is different. I don’t want the pastor cussing. But, we have a lot of pastors who don’t cuss but they have pathetic people skills, work ethics, time management, leadership, problem solving, and team building. This is why people won’t follow you.
Why should that mom in your church follow you when she cares more about her towels than you do your sermons?(just a question)
- What kind of skills do you have?
- What are you doing to grow your ministry skills?
- What are you doing to grow your speaking? (some of us haven’t listened to ourselves speak for years. This is a shame)
- Do you have people giving you input on your skills?
- Do you have a coach?
- How are your skills limiting you? What are you going to do about this?
What other questions would be good to add to this list?
In this one Scripture we find enough meat to chew on for a long time. Chew on it. Think about it. As we go into 2009 maybe this is all we have to care about…hearts that love Jesus and filled with intergity and skillful hands.
