I just read a chapter in Bill Hybel’s book Axiom, An Owner or a Hireling, that really drew the line in the sand for me.
“At some point in their leadership journey, every leader gets a vision from God. They start to carry out that vision and feel extremely privileged to be doing God’s bidding here on earth. But then the road forks. One path leads to hireling status, the other to that of owner.”
This really hit because it is at this fork in the road that I have stared at for the past year. As disappointment arose so did my disorientation and disconnection. I went through a period of real darkness where I couldn’t see how things were going to work out. I think this trial has forced me into a choice of which Bill Hybel’s so eloquently states. I can be a hireling or an owner, and only one.
A hireling was “’a hired hand,’ as Jesus called halfhearted people who labored in the sheep-protection business of his day. You know the type: they’re committed to the vision God gave them to carry out until it gets too hard, the price gets too high, the fun factor gets overshadowed by the onerous challenges, and the honeymoon gets declared over and done.”
On the other hand the owner says, “God, you gave me this vision, and it’s your power that’s fueling it and your people who are accomplishing it and your glory alone that we’re fighting for. Right here and right now, I tell you all over again that I will pay any price to achieve this vision so that someday, when I get to the finish line, I’ll be able to say with Paul that I fought the good fight.”
Only time will tell the choice I make…what will you choose?
