"Please put on your own mask before assisting others." These are the instructions given by the flight attendant before "take off" when traveling by air. They are given in case there should be a loss of cabin pressure while in flight.
Why the instruction to put your own mask on first? Wouldn't it be better to help others first?
Once I have a good supply of oxygen I will be free to help others without risk to myself or others. However if I try to help others first I may help a few people but soon I will need help.
Do we face similar challenges as pastors and church leaders? How important is for us to take care of our souls before offering spiritual leadership to others? What happens when we neglect our own soul to care of others?
It Seems Selfish
You ask, isn't it selfish to care for myself as a first priority? It doesn't seem right to set limits on being available to help others in order to take care of myself. In addition I may fail to meet the expectations of the people I am leading.
Didn't Jesus say we should deny ourselves? Actually what Jesus says is "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition. . ." Matt 16:24 NLT emphasis added.
I believe Jesus is calling us to deny our inclination to pursue our selfish ambition or the desires of my sin damaged self. Jesus says I need to deny my selfish ambition not the nurturing of my soul.
Jesus Also Says
"And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? Is anything worth more than your soul?" Matt 16:26 NLT. Here Jesus is admonishing us to take care of our souls.
I see instructions in this passage to not neglect caring for our souls in order be successful in ministry. "Selfish ambition" grows out of my need for significance and fulfillment. I am tempted to find this in my ministry accomplishments. This leads me to neglect my own well being - the well being of my body, mind and soul.
Knowing this Jesus says, "Come to me . . . and I will give you rest." Matt 11:28
Jesus called his disciples to be with him before he sent them out to minister. After a very successful ministry he invited them to "get away and rest" (Mark 6:31). Jesus practiced a rhythm of work and rest. He often escaped the demands of ministry and retreated to lonely places to nurture his own soul. He taught his disciples to do the same.
Jesus Speaks to Me
Jesus seems to be saying, "What do you gain Stan, if you care well for many others, nurturing their souls and seeing them grow but you fail to take care of your own. Your soul needs time to be alone with Me in a posture of listening. It needs a balance so that 'doing' flows out of 'being'.
You must put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others. You need to live for the audience of 'One' rather than to please the many".
Commitment
"Please put on your own mask before assisting others." Let's make it a priority to experience frequent times of renewal for our whole being. This means making time to nurture my soul so that my doing flows out of my being. Let's keep our souls refreshed in the Lord. Why not begin observing a Sabbath rest every seven days?
(Please note: This article was inspired by the book, Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership - Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry by Ruth Haley Barton)
You must put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others. You need to live for the audience of 'One' rather than to please the many".
Commitment
"Please put on your own mask before assisting others." Let's make it a priority to experience frequent times of renewal for our whole being. This means making time to nurture my soul so that my doing flows out of my being. Let's keep our souls refreshed in the Lord. Why not begin observing a Sabbath rest every seven days?
(Please note: This article was inspired by the book, Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership - Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry by Ruth Haley Barton)
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