Follow the Leader Isn’t Just a Kid’s Game
Everyday someone is watching us and many will imitate us. Not to mention, the ones we follow and imitate everyday.
“Come here, kids. Come and circle around me so you can hear me. We are going to play a fun game called Follow the Leader!”
It had been a long time since I’d watched a game of Follow the Leader played out by elementary-aged children.
“Get in a line behind the birthday boy. That’s it! Now put your hands on the shoulders of the person in front of you.”
A precocious boy yelled from somewhere around the middle of the line, “Hey! This is a conga line!” He followed his exclamation with a rhythmic hip movement and a, “Cha-cha-cha!”
The music flared into a zesty tune, and all ten children began snaking their way around the room giggling and dancing to the beat while clinging to the shoulders of the kid in front of them.
You know the scene, don’t you? We’ve all seen a conga line led by a proud, giggling school-aged child.
All the children behind the leader sort of look like their heads are going to be pulled off while their feet seem to race ahead of them trying desperately to keep up with the fast moving line. That is until the kid in front slows down. Then, all the children begin to stand upright again, but now they are going too quickly and they begin smashing into the person in front of them.
Then it happens. The tiniest among the crew just can’t hang anymore. He trips over his feet and lands on the linoleum face first. He panics, curls into a fetal position, and chaos ensues.
Every single child who’s in line behind him begins to trip and fall, and what started as giggles and laughter ends in a scene from the movie, Little Giants. All the kids behind the short-legged boy domino down into a football pile up until an adult intervenes and begins plucking up child after child to uncover the poor little soul wailing on the bottom crying for his Mommy.
What started out as a simple game of Follow the Leader turned into chaos, and the smallest and weakest among them got hurt.
So it is in our lives.
Each and every one of us is involved in a rousing game of Follow the Leader every single day.
Everyday someone is watching us and many will imitate us. Not to mention, the ones we follow and imitate everyday.
Paul says to the church in Philippi,
17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. ~Philippians 3:17
We must be wise about who we choose to follow and choose to imitate. We get to make that choice.
We don’t always get to choose who imitates us or even what part of our lives they choose to imitate.
But imitate they will and we must live accordingly, with conviction and purpose so as not to lead astray the littlest and weakest among us.
So, today, ask yourself:
- Who is following me? Write their names down in your journal. Don’t just write down the obvious answers. Pray and ask the Lord to reveal to you those who are watching and following you that you may not be aware of.
- Who am I intentionally leading? Write down those you are intentionally seeking to lead, be it your children, a ministry, or even your spouse.
- Who is God asking me to lead? Write these names down in your journal. Leadership comes in many different forms. It’s not always spoken, so ask the Lord to reveal to you who He would have you lead with conviction, strength, and integrity.
- Who am I following? Write these names down in your journal. Consider the people in your life you look up to and who have influence in your life. Think about people in your home, your church, your community, and even the blogs and books you read. Then ask yourself, where are they leading me to and are they worthy of imitation?
Scriptures to read for study and contemplation:
- Philippians 3:13-21
- Philippians 4:8-9
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18
Follow the Leader isn’t just a kid’s game.
Knowing who you are following and who is following you is important. We are witnesses of Christ.
Where are we leading those who follow us? Are we leading them deeper into relationship with Christ, or are we drawing them away from Christ into the things of this world?
Our witness matters. Be someone worth imitating. Don’t trample the weak around you because you think no one’s watching.