All In: How do we ever know?

Ministry can be tough. Charlie Brown said, “I love mankind, it’s people I can’t stand.” I spoke with a friend and colleague yesterday and he is struggling over some issues in his ministry. How do you get people motivated? How do you enable them to see the big picture and what’s possible if everyone is sold out to the goal of the ministry?

Those questions really are keys to leadership in any area. How to you get the people to go “all in?” How can you get someone fully invested in the goals of the organization? I wonder if the key is defining what “all in” looks like. What would it look like for an individual or a couple to be fully invested in the “prime directive” of an organization? For me, what would it look like for someone to be “all in” seeking to fulfill the great commission?

Do we define “all in” by the amount of time invested in the task? Are we “all in” because we give the majority of our time to a specific endeavor? Are we “all in” when we attend every event or support every project?

Another question: Who defines “all in” anyway? Is the leader the one who decides who’s “all in?” Do we trust the people to determine whether they’re “all in?” Can we trust them?

There are many bases on which we could define “all in,” some of which would be helpful. Other ways can be misleading or even deceptive.

Perhaps the bottom line is whether I’m “all in.” Am I doing all I can or should? That in itself is an interesting question. How much can I do? Is there ever an end to how much I could do? If we focus on “should,” that implies that there is an objective standard which determines the appropriate level of activity. Am I meeting that standard? Do I have any right to go beyond that amount? It appears to me that we err when we press past the level of “should” and endeavor to do everything possible. Furthermore, when I apply that “could” standard to others, I’ve compounded the error and make those I influence partners in violating the proper God-given expectations for activity.

Father, I believe that you would have me focus on my “all in,” forgetting the status of those around me. When I lose my focus remind me of your plan and your empowerment. Let me model that level of commitment – and activity – that characterizes a properly balanced life by your standards, rather than the arbitrary standards of some human culture. May I represent you well.