Employers and pastors both have the important task of putting people into positions of responsibility. Employers do so to make their businesses more profitable; pastors do so to expand the Kingdom of God.
But employers do something that pastors often miss: They hire the right person for the job.
Check out this verse:
Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it.
Simply put: Kenaniah was in charge of the singing because he could sing; he could carry a tune; he had skill; his singing was pleasant to the worshippers in the tabernacle. This word skillful also implies that he knew how to teach others too.
You give someone the job because they are skillful at it. Not because their feelings would be hurt if you gave the job to someone else, not because you hope giving them the job will boost their self-esteem. This is just as true in the church as it is in the business world.
The way I read the Bible, everyone has a talent. One of the roles of a shepherd leader is to find the right place for every person’s talent. Pastors do a disservice to both the individual and to the whole church body when they give someone a job for which they do not have the God-given talent.
Craig T. Owens 
December 13, 2010 at 5:38 pm
I agree that Pastors most times don’t hire or put in leadership people that are truly gifted, skilled &called. I like the idea that they must be able to teach or replicate themselves. It has been our experience in church leadership that friends & people that the pastor likes get leadership places.Recently we were warned that we would be removed from ministry because we didn’t agree with his ‘vision’. The vision we had to agree with to continue serving was putting high schoolers in leadership & putting forward a ‘young church’ appearance in order to attract more 20yr olds.
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December 13, 2010 at 5:46 pm
I like to work with people I like, but that doesn’t mean that because I like someone I should put them in a position that they are not skilled to do. If I put someone in a ministry position just because I like them, I’m doing both that individual and the whole community a disservice.
I believe everyone is God-gifted. It is the pastor’s role to help people discover their God-given gift, and then help find a place of ministry where this gift benefits them and the whole community.
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December 14, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Poor Moses wouldn’t have gotten the job to lead the Isrealites out of Egypt if he had been chosen primarily on skill. I think Prayer has a major part in selecting leaders for Spiritual jobs as Timothy was young but he was given a chance and proved his worthiness. Who knew a bunch of fisherman could be desciples ? All three above had a great support from others (and/or Jesus himself) around them and they were willing to step out of their own comfort zones and learn what was needed for the job. None of them were left hanging to figure it out either, good training and knowing the expectations of their jobs also helped I am sure. I enjoy your blogs, Pastor Craig, they are always so thought provoking!
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