Facts of the Matter

Review:

#1 The Top Down Attitude

#2 Putting Paperwork Before People Work

#3 Absence of Affirmation

#4 No Room for Mavericks

#5 Dictatorship in Decision-making

#6 Dirty Delegation:  Jethro observed his son-in-law Moses who was at the point of near exhaustion as he sought to meet everyones needs who came to him.  Jethros solution? Delegation.  Select capable men from all the people–men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain–and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.  (Ex. 18:21)

Hans Finzel reminds us that Over managing is one of the great cardinal sins of poor leadership.  Nothing frustrates those who work for you more than sloppy delegation with too many strings attached.1 Yet most people in the positions of leadership refuse to let go and delegate. Why? 

  Fear of loosing authority.

  Fear of work being done poorly.

  Fear of work being done better.

  Unwillingness to take the necessary time.

  Fear of depending on others.

  Lack of training and positive experience.

Guidelines that can help us delegate more effectively:

  Choose qualified people.

  Exhibit confidence.

  Make their duties clear.

  Delegate the proper authority.

  Do not tell them how to do the work.

  Set up accountability points along the way.

  Supervise according to their follow-through style.

  Give them room to fail occasionally.

  Give praise and credit for work well done.

Questions every follower asks:

  What am I suppose to do?

  Will you let me do it?

  Will you help me when I need it?

  Will you let me know how I am doing?3

Question: Theodore Roosevelt stated, The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it. Are you one of those men?

 1 Much of this material is derived from Ten Top Mistakes Leaders Make by Hans Finzel – Victor Books, 1977

2 Ten Top Mistakes Leaders Make by Hans Finzel – Victor Books, 1977

3 The Business Ministry Journal Dr. Lorne Sanny – 1992

What are the solutions to sexual addiction? (Continued)

• Develop a no-nonsense growth/accountability relationship with another person or group, preferably with believers more spiritually mature than yourself.

• Take a hard look at your lifestyle.  Are you maxed out? Under too much pressure? Getting enough rest and exercise? How is communication with your spouse? Do you know your trigger points that start you on the path downward?

• Commit your body to Christ as instruments for His use and glory.  Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. (Rom. 6:13

• Keep guard over your heart, understanding that the heart is led by the eyes. Above all else, guard your heart (literally the mind, emotions and will) for it is the wellspring of life.  (Pro. 4:23) (See Lk. 11:34)

• Understand the fact that the eyes are never satisfied.  Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man. (Pro. 27:20) Therefore, make a pact with your eyes to keep them pure. "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.  (Pro. 31:30)

• Recognize that somewhere out there is a level of titillation and allurement that you will find irresistible. Have no illusions about how weak and vulnerable you are. Therefore take whatever prudent and necessary steps to avoid the problem.  So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fallA prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.  (I Cor. 10:12; Pro. 22:3) (See 2 Cor. 12:7-10)

• Practice some common sense rules for safe internet usage:

– Keep the family PC in a central, public location within the home, such as the kitchen or family room.

–  Use a filtering service in conjunction with a monitoring service such as Focus on the Familys www.pureintimacy.org.

– Communicate about PC use. Adults and their children should openly discuss the benefits and dangers of internet use, talking about how to keep their thoughts pure while on the Internet, like anywhere else.

–  Establish a family rule so that everyone knows not to give out personal information to anyone on the Internet and to not meet with anyone they dont know.

– Dont publish personal information in a member profile and dont frequent chat rooms with adult-orientated discussions.

• Consider some of the following reading material (geared primarily for men):

Temptations Men Face Tom L. Eisenman InverVarsity Press

When Men Think Private Thoughts Gordon McDonald Nelson Publishers

Every Mans Battle Stephen Arterbun and Fred Stoker Waterbrook Press

Mens Secret Wars Patrick Means Fleming Publishers

Dangers Men Face Jerry White NavPress

Breaking Free: Understanding Sexual Addiction and the Healing Power of Jesus Russell Willingham Intervarsity Press

False Intimacy Harry W. Schaumburg NavPress