"Succession"

 

“Succession”

 

The 25^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1967, deals with presidential succession should the Chief Executive die, resign or become unable to discharge the duties of the Office. This was done to assure a smooth transition under unusual circumstances and allow the government to continue to function. On a related matter, one member of the President’s Cabinet is at an undisclosed location during the President’s State of the Union address so the nation won’t be leaderless should a catastrophic event take place. This represents God-given wisdom.

At some point every nation, business, organization and ministry faces a change at the top, be it anticipated or unexpected. Those which have a procedure for succession in place have a much better prospect for continuing to function normally than those which fail to plan for this inevitable event. Dr. Henrietta Mears, a noted 20^th century Christian educator, observed that “Every ministry is one generation from extinction.” So the current generation must prepare the next which prepares the next which…you get the idea. The Apostle Paul reinforced this principle when he wrote to his young pastoral protégé, “…The things you have heard me say…entrust to reliable (people) who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2). The church has been sustained for 20 centuries because godly individuals have taken this instruction seriously.

In Numbers 27 God describes succession in a family and in Israel’s leadership. God provided a family legacy for a man who had died with no sons by continuing his family’s inheritance through his daughters (Verses 5-7). He also safeguarded Israel’s national leadership by designating Joshua to guide His people into Canaan in answer to Moses’ request (Verses 15-21). These examples encourage us today. Our families can lose their way if we fail to leave them a legacy of faithfulness and obedience to God so He decreed, “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, emphasis added). And part of Paul’s ministry strategy was training young men for leading churches after his Homegoing. Too often one generation is unwilling to turn the reins of leadership to the next one which tragically has led to the demise of many churches and ministries.

If we want our families, ministries and churches to prosper after we’ve passed from the scene we must invest in those who follow us. To this end may we fulfill the prayer of songwriter Jon Mohr: “O may all who come behind us find us faithful….”

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan