The anesthetic had already kicked in when my dentist arrived, apologizing for being late. She had a good reason: She had just come back from an appointment with her own dentist, she said. When she flashed a smile at me, I noticed her teeth, perfect, straight, and white. Then she put on her surgical mask, revved her drill like a chain saw, and went to work on me.

I kept thinking about her teeth. It’s not surprising that a dentist would have a bright smile, of course. In fact, I rather expect it. But her comment about having just come back from her own appointment made me realize that when it comes to dental maintenance, her professional status gives her no advantage over me. She’s bound by the same rules that I am: you gotta brush em, you gotta floss em, and you gotta let somebody else drill em every now and then, no matter who you are.

It’s the same for leaders in ministry. The rules that apply to the people in the pew also apply to you and me, always. We’ll never get beyond our need for the basics: a daily devotional life, the call to love others, and the need to die to oneself.

I’ve never known a dentist who neglected his or her own teeth — at least not to the point that it shows. I have, however, known some Christian leaders who neglected their spiritual health in favor of getting results and racking up good stats. I’ve been one, even. It’s an easy trap to fall into. And it’s also a difficult secret to keep. Just like neglecting the care of one’s teeth soon becomes obvious, so does neglecting the care of your spiritual life.

For this reason, every leader needs to make it a habit to get into God’s presence as early as possible, and stay there as long as possible, while we give him free reign to conform us to image of his Son. It’s a place leaders will never surpass; it’s where we must start every day.

O Lord in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee and will look up. (Psalm 5:3)

Warren Buffet said, “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”

With the exception of the church planters among us, and the entrepreneurs among us, you’re preaching in a church this Sunday or working in an office this week because a handful of people sacrificed years ago, or decades ago, to get a fledgling idea off the ground. (By the way, don’t forget to say ‘thank-you’ for those who paid the price to make your current work possible.)

Now the question to consider is: Who will be sitting in the shade of your hard work twenty years from now? Or more to the point: Will there be shade to sit in?

When you build disciples — whether it’s your children, your church members, or your staff — you’re planting trees.

When you help others develop Christian character, or improve their marriage, or parent more effectively, or become a more loyal friend, you’re planting trees.

When you teach the Word, and teach others to love the Word, you’re planting trees.

Much of our work involves putting out today’s fire today. Don’t let today’s urgencies prevent you from making shade for the next generation.

And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2 ESV)

What would you do if you knew you had only week to live? Would you go away? Would you go home? Would you do some last minute sinning, or some last minute repenting? Would you be sad? Angry? Hopeful? Afraid? How would you spend those final hours?

Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. (John 13:1)

When Jesus had one week to live, he chose to wash his disciples’ feet. He did the work of a common slave, ministering to those who were closest to him. He washed their feet (John 13), he comforted them (John 14), he encouraged them (John 15-16), prayed for them (John 17), and then he died for them. He spent the last week of his life fulfilling his purpose; he spent the last week of his life being a servant.
…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)

You and me, we have a week to live: this week — and most probably hundreds more. I want to spend this week fulfilling my purpose, doing that which is most important in terms of eternity: serving Christ by serving others.

Dale Carnegie said, “One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon — instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today.”

When Paul said, “Now is the day of salvation,” his words were not addressed to the lost. He was writing to believers (“fellow workers,” he called them in verse 1), reminding them of their mission, of the price Jesus had paid for their sins, of the new life that was theirs in Christ.

And he urged them not to wait a moment longer to begin living life to the fullest. “Be reconciled to God,” he said to his fellow workers. “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

The same can be said for you and me.

Stop waiting for your “life” to begin, for everything to fall into place.

Your life is now.

Today is the day of God’s favor.

Today is the day that God’s wants to bless you.

Today is the day that God wants to use you.

What kind of roses are blooming outside your window today, and how you will begin to enjoy them?

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