The more successful you are as a leader, the less accessible you will become.

It’s not a bad thing… and it is an unavoidable truth.

So as we notice this happening… we’ll likely respond in one of two ways:

1. We’ll refuse to face this truth and we’ll burn out trying to be accessible to everyone, or we’ll go to the other extreme and
2. We’ll use our success (as a leader) as an excuse to become less accessible than we need to be.

Unawareness is bliss.

The more we know, the more we will feel… and therefore feel compelled to help.

Conversely, the less we know, the greater the chance that our hearts will grow cold and we will become more distant.

Inaccessible.

Not present.

So what are we to do?

How do we move forward?

Andy points us to Paul and his advice to the Church in Galatia:

⁹ Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Gal. 6:9-10 TNIV

and

² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Gal. 6:2 TNIV

Paul is essentially saying:

You can’t shut it all out, but you can’t take it all on.

This is one of the primary tensions we face in ministry. It never goes away. It comes with the territory.

So, Andy’s advice:

Do for one what you wish you could do or everyone.

We can’t do it all, but we need to do it for some… otherwise our hearts will grow hard.

And to some, this won’t seem fair.

But we don’t need to be fair. [Yep. That’s what he said.]

If we can do this, if we can walk this line, it will allow us to be engaged, but not overwhelmed.

Andy offered a few tips as we attempt to walk this fine line:

• Go deep rather than wide
• Go long-term rather than short-term
• Go time, not just money

A lot to chew on here…

What do you think?