(my apologies - this was to be posted on Monday but I was taking in the wonder of "Dollywood" and forgot to hit 'publish'! Enjoy the read even though it's a few days later than normal. KG)
A timeless expression, "getting the cart before the horse."
As a worship leader at Meck, I have the privilege of helping equip next generation leaders for service in this great thing we are all part of called the church. One part of that privilege is knowing when a person is ready spiritually to lead people and represent Christ to others physically. Or in other words, I need to prayerfully, intuitively, intelligently and by the power of the Holy Spirit in me, know when a person is ready for public ministry. As I was reflecting on this responsibility and some people who fall into my "sphere of influence," I thought of this old phrase, getting the cart before the horse.
You know why the cart expression is so timeless and makes more sense than we even realize?
If this cart gets in front of, instead of behind, this horse a lot of bad things happen. The cart undoubtedly gets turned over, possibly destroyed or at least damaged. The cargo can be lost, broken or otherwise rendered useless. The horse could very well be dragged to the ground, twisted turned and even killed under the wreckage from the cart and horse being out of position. It's not that the cart was poorly made or the horse not conditioned for the job. No, quite simply, things just got out of wack:)
Now I know I'm really looking deep into six little words, but consider the implications if the horse were a person, and the cart a public ministry and the cargo...people's eternal salvation. Really puts things in perspective huh? Suddenly we're not picturing an old Amish guy on a horse and buggy.
If we get this wrong in terms of ourselves, and leading others the implications can look like this: The horse is a good person who loves the Lord who is suddenly elevated to a platform for which they are not ready. They may gain a false sense of spiritual maturity and never really learn they need God and His power and blessing in order to accomplish anything good for the cause of Christ. Subsequently this person's spiritual walk is stunted, stifled and creeps to a halt with their new found status and pride. The cart is filled with people looking to this horse to make spiritually mature decisions and lead them toward Christ and godliness. Only the horse can not even hear God's voice for being so detached and distracted from a relationship with Him. The cart itself is a public ministry that the person is not ready for and the cart ultimately causes the horse's demise.
This may seem a little dramatic. But I've witnessed it first hand and it's sad and ugly. Everyone involved is left asking themselves, "How did this happen?" This is why these blogs are so important. This is why our response to this challenge of growing a heart like the heart of God is so important. This is why it is so vital that WE, all of us are reading, studying and talking about the Word of God. Because without us taking the initiative to seek the very face of God by diving head first into His Word and applying the words to our lives no matter how difficult, painful or challenging it may seem to be, we are all destined to either witness or be part of this tragic analogy. We must get this one right, as leaders and potential leaders and followers of Christ.
I'd like to challenge you to consider your platform. Think long and hard about the responsibility we have of leading others. Consider what God has entrusted you with and make certain you don't become part of this mistake. And we do that by applying the difficult instructions of Christianity to our lives. Instructions about self examination, pride and motives. We ought to pray as the great men of the Bible prayed. And if we are lying to ourselves and God when we pray these prayers, then there's our first area to allow God to work.
Here's a good starting point for all of us. God says this to Isaiah in chapter 55 verse 8 and 9:
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."
And then in conjunction we can consider Jesus' prayer found in Luke 22:42:
"Father if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done."
If we can pray these two scriptures in conjunction here's what that prayer might look like:
"Lord, your plans and thoughts are higher, more noble, wiser and ultimately just better than mine. I know I've asked for this or for that, but Lord your will be done in a through my life, and not mine."
Can we all pray that honestly? If no, there's step one. If yes, there's also step one:) Let's let God decide what role, platform and influence we have and let us only be concerned with seeking God's face. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Let's not get the cart before the horse. People's eternity is at stake. People God loves, created and died for. Thanks for reading. I love you all.
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