I’m writing this blog from the Every Nation Eastern European Leadership Conference in Krakow, Poland while sitting on the front row listening to my friend, Wolfi Eckleben, preach his classic “Carry Your Cheese” sermon.
Here are two thoughts from Pastor Wolfi’s message, that I think all reluctant leaders will appreciate.
1. The Great Cheese Truth: If we want to kill giants, we must first carry cheese.
David started the day carrying cheese but ended the day carrying Goliath’s head.
His father told him to: Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. (1 Sam 17:18)
Later that same day, the Bible tells us that as soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head. (1 Sam 17:57)
David wasn’t trying to be a leader or a hero. He was simply trying to obey his father and serve his brothers. He seemed perfectly content to carry cheese to those who were on the front lines. If obedience and service is our goal, then greatness is often the result. But if greatness is the goal, pride is often the result.
2. The Great Cheese Promise: If we carry the cheese, we will one day carry giant’s heads.
In other words, if we are faithful in the small, we will eventually be responsible for big things. Or, as Jesus said, Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much. . . (Luke 16:10)
Never underestimate the power and potential of the mundane, the boring, the seemingly insignificant. Small steps often lead to great adventures, huge breakthroughs, and unexpected promotion.
Leadership is . . . carrying the cheese in the morning, knowing that by evening we might be carrying a giant head.
Leadership is also . . .
carrying the cheese, even if it stinks or has holes in it.
carrying the cheese, even thought it sometimes attracts rats.
carrying the cheese, even if someone else gets to eat it.
I don’t know what your “cheese” is, but I do know that a big part of spiritual leadership is obeying the Father and serving the brothers, even if that means doing the insignificant and being unnoticed.