Discontent

Tomorrow, or today, depending on when you read this, millions of people are going to the polls here in America.  According to most analysts, many of the people going are quite discontent with the state of things, and for the third time in as many National elections (2006, 2008, and now 2010) the makeup of our government is going to change largely out of a feeling of discontent (that's a pretty nice term seeing as some people are more fed up and angry than "discontent").


Now, this isn't some political hack piece.  I like politics as much as the next man, and maybe more, but I want to talk about discontent.  Discontent is one of those pieces of leadership that I think goes overlooked in many circles. 

We are told in the Bible to be content with what we have.  Not being content with what God is providing us can get us into sketchy spiritual territory.  I believe, however, that God has put into us a discontent with the state of the world that drives the Christian leader to act.

Why are you a Christian leader?  My bet is that some aspect of the world seemed wrong to you and you acted on it.  Discontent at work.  For centuries God's  people have seen the spiritual and physical poverty of foreign and domestic peoples and have entered the harvest.  Discontent at work.  This Ministry:  Next in Line, is the product of discontent with the way that young people are prepared for a life of Christian leadership.  Discontent at work.

God gives the Christian leader a holy discontentment with some aspect of the world and then calls that person into His work.  Think of Nehemiah, being told that the city of Jerusalem lay in ruins, a laughingstock to surrounding nations.  Nehemiah knew that this was less than optimal.  Soon, Nehemiah was supervising the rebuilding of the walls of the great city.

When we get down, or seem to lose our way, remember the discontentment that first brought you to where you are today.  Likewise, look for discontent among your students.  This is a first sign of leadership capability.  Listen to them, and offer them a path to "sooth" their discontent.  Tell them to listen to God and hear what He is calling them into.  Nourish holy discontent (not so people can complain, but so they can act.  Nothing points out a person who isn't a leader like a person who just wants to complain about the problem instead of going into the work to cure the problem).

Tomorrow, or today, watch what discontent does.  Pay close attention to what leaders are doing with that discontent.  Look and see what discontent is capable of.  Agree or not with the way that tomorrow's election goes, you have to see the beauty of what discontent can accomplish.  What more can it accomplish when a holy discontent is burning within the heart of a servant of God?

Training Tomorrow's Leaders Today,
Matt