Scripture
And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.” Acts 6:3-4

Observation
A pastor-friend of mine vented to me over breakfast, “My senior pastor delegates to the staff and then bounces around the office saying, ‘I feel so much better now with a clean plate.’” My friend grizzled because he experienced not delegation but dumping. The dumping delegator off loads his responsibilities on others without a recognition of what God is up to. Delegation from God’s point of view is not about plate scraping but about mentoring a new generation of leaders.

The apostles off loaded the widow ministry and went back to their prayer meetings and Bible studies. God, however, was up to something, doing more with their decision than they anticipated. Stephen and Philip did not plod along forever in their duties. Once they started the widow ministry their potential was developed and new doors of ministry opened for them. For Stephen it was the work of a martyr. For Philip it was the work of an evangelist. Others would have to pick up their duties for the Lord had new plans for them.

When God delegates he does not dump. Potential is not suffocated under drudgery. When the Lord delegates he develops people and their potential. Waiters become warriors for the kingdom while the leaders are in their offices praying.

Application
When a leader delegates he should do so with a profound respect for the hidden potential of people. If a leader is a good leader then those around him will have more potential than he. Delegation is not a way of making a leader’s day easier but to strengthen the ability of team members for their future. When the leader delegates he should do so with a holy expectancy of what God is doing. David was sent to deliver groceries and came back with a giant’s head. One never knows just what God might do in the life of someone given a new responsibility. One never knows what might happen in me.

Prayer
Father, I want to be a developing leader that those around me excel beyond me. Give me a healthy sense of my own significance and surprise me with what you do with those who work with me. Amen.