[God] is not impressed with horsepower; the size of our muscles means little to him. Those who fear God get God’s attention; they can depend on his strength. Psalm 147:9-10 (The Message)
Many times, as a leader, I’m consumed with finding the “right” person for a position (both staff and volunteer). I seek to find talented, driven, enthusiastic people…you know, people with lots of horsepower.
This is not a bad thing, but sometimes it overshadows the BEST thing: the fear of the Lord. Fearing God is not being scared of Him, but respecting and honoring Him because He is worthy. Psalm 147:9-10 is a good reminder to me that the first thing I should look for in others when finding staff & volunteer leaders is the fear of the Lord.
Here are some characteristics of a person who fears (honors/respects) God:
- Personal character
- Authentic worship
- Passionate commitment
- Love for people
- Love for God’s Word
- Servant’s heart
- Humility
- Work ethic (they work as unto the Lord)
- Financial stewardship
These are the things I should seek first in the leaders I recruit. If we don’t look for the light that comes from the Holy character God is building into someone, we just might be blinded by their “horsepower” and miss the darkness in their soul.
Fear of the Lord
+ Horsepower
= Solid Leader
Horsepower
– Fear of the Lord
= A Recipe for Disaster
What characteristics do look for in people you are recruiting?
