Empowering Others

To empower others, teach them!

By Ben Dankaka

One day, Jesus took his disciples to a solitary place so they could break away from the crowd. They boarded a boat and quietly left. But before they got to their destination, the crowd recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and even got to the solitary place ahead of them. When Jesus saw the large crowd, he pitied them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus had compassion on them because He realized they were in need of leaders. In other words, Jesus realized there was a shortage of leadership. How did Jesus tackle the problem?

When Jesus saw that the people were like sheep without a shepherd, “he began teaching them many things” (Mark 6:34). Notice that Jesus didn’t address the leadership problem by sharing money, food items or material things. Jesus didn’t try to solve the problem by blaming anyone. He didn’t ask them to go home and find “leaders”. At that instant, Jesus began to teach them. Of all things, Jesus chose knowledge as a means of empowering the people. Although they needed some fish, Jesus decided to teach the people how to fish. To empower others, teach them!

 

Prayer: Dear Jesus, teach me how to empower others. Amen.

 

REFERENCES/FURTHER STUDY: Mark 6:30-34

 

Unless otherwise stated all scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version.