“The person of knowledge has always been expected to take responsibility for being understood. It is barbarian arrogance to assume that the layman can or should make the effort to understand the specialist, and that it is enough if the person of knowledge talks to a handful of fellow experts who are his peers. Even in the university or in the research laboratory, this attitude—alas, only too common today—condemns the expert to uselessness and converts his knowledge from learning into pedantry. If a person wants to be an executive—that is, if he want to be considered responsible for his contribution—he has to concern himself with the usability of his 'product'—that is his knowledge.
“Effective knowledge workers know this. For they are always imperceptibly led by their upward orientation into finding out what the other fellow needs, what the other fellow sees, and what the other fellow understands. Effective people find themselves asking other people in the organization, their superiors, their subordinates, but above all, their colleagues in other areas, 'What contribution from me do you require to make your contribution to the organization? When do you need this, how do you need it, and in what form?'”— The Essential Drucker, pages 212-213
<idle musing>
Wow, “their upward orientation,” “what the other fellow needs,” “what do you require from me.” Those should be descriptive of the Christian—especially the servant leader! What good is your seminary education or graduate training if it isn't used to equip the saints? It “converts his knowledge from learning into pedantry” and condemns you to uselessness. I would also add that it is a good feeding ground for pride...
</idle musing>
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3 comments:
Having worked in a couple different sectors of retail I can tell you that the majority of employees I had didn't want to know any more than they had to, to get their job done. I always tried to find interesting ways of teaching them more. My hope was my employees would take more ownership of their jobs. When people take ownership of what they do, then they continue to invest themselves.
In my experience most Christians are like the employees I've had. Most of them don't and won't take the time to take ownership of their walk with Christ. God desires people who will gladly join Him in the work He desires to do in and through us. I'm not saying God desires for us to take the driver's seat and the wheel. We see too much of that kind of abuse in the Church. But when we realize that God desires an active, vibrant, growing relationship, then we become involved in learning all we can, rather than simply sitting in a pew week after week.
What leaders in the Church need to be doing is working very hard to make themselves useless. One of my best friends is a pastor, and he says the most important part of his work is to lead people to the place where they are doing his job. When they get to the point where they don't need him anymore, then he plans to move on to someplace else.
I LIKE IT!!
Lonnie
Lonnie,
Would that more church leaders had that opinion and motive! I agree with you that most christians are just punching a clock until they die. They have their fire insurance in the back pocket...but will it work?
James
I fear not. Jesus says "depart from Me...I never knew you..." If God is conforming us to the image and likeness of Christ then our lives begin to take on the appearance of Jesus in our character and actions. Not that we are making ourselves like Christ, for only God can do that. If Christ cannot see His image reflected in us, then how can He recognize us?? If He doesn't recognize us, then what can He say but, "Depart from Me."???
I also know that God doesn't give up. He will keep at us until we let Him in, or we make our hearts too hard, even for Him.
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