Leadership Lessons from the Lightkeeper

Leadership Lessons from the Lightkeeper

Years ago, there was a lighthouse keeper on a rugged stretch of coastline. He was given just enough oil each month to keep the light burning through the nights. The light wasn’t for him—it was for sailors out at sea who depended on it for safety. He had one job—you guessed it- keep the light burning. Pretty straightforward, right? Don’t let ships crash into the rocks. Not complicated. But the guy was super nice. Maybe too nice. The neighbors would show up: 

• “Hey, can I borrow some oil for my lamp?” 

• • “Sure, no problem.” 

• “I need a little for cooking.” 

• • “Of course, anything for you.” 

• “My tractor’s squeaky, think a little lamp oil will help?” 

• • “Absolutely, take all you need.” 

By the end of the month, guess what? Yep—the oil tank’s bone dry. And wouldn’t you know it, the night he runs out just so happens to be the stormiest night of the year. The lighthouse goes dark, ships slam into the rocks, and chaos ensues. 

And when the authorities ask him what happened, he’s like, “Well… I was being helpful! People needed me! I didn’t want to let them down. I didn’t want to make them mad at me. It was easier if I did it than if someone else did, I was called to do these tasks, I was meeting needs!” 

Except—his actual job was to keep the light burning. 

And that’s leadership in the church, isn’t it? Everyone wants just a little more oil from you. Everyone’s got just one request this one time. And as leaders, we’re tempted to say yes to everything, because it feels good to be needed. And as leaders, we think we can handle all the extra responsibilities.  But if we forget the one job—keeping the light of Jesus burning bright—then the whole thing falls apart. 

There are some lessons to learn from the Lighthouse Keeper.

• Leadership is both a privilege and a weight. Weariness can creep in—there will always be another need, another event, another demand, not enough people. We have the weight of temptation. We can start to wonder if the work matters, or can someone else do this, or to say yes to everything. Satan may convince us we are the only ones doing the work or we are the only one with this calling.  

This is why it is crucial to listen to what God says to combat Satan’s lies. Galatians 6:9  reminds us that our labor is not in vain; God will bring a harvest in His time. 1 John 3:17–18  tells us that leadership gives opportunities to love with action, not just words. We read in Hebrews 10:24–25  that we lead as part of a body; we are not the entire body, we inspire and encourage one another and would be nothing without each other. Finally we land on Romans 12:11–12 – “Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Cheerfully expectant, don’t quit in hard times. “

How do we keep ourselves fueled and aflame as leaders with the ultimate responsibility of keeping the light burning for Jesus? 

• Keep pointing teams toward loving God first. We lead others to find and follow Jesus by living a compassionate, Christ-centered life, praying for guidance and preparation in others’ hearts. We build genuine relationships with the people He places in our lives both inside the walls and outside the walls of Harvester. We humbly share the Gospel message of God’s love, sin, salvation through Jesus’ sacrifice, and eternal life. This is our greatest responsibility, and this is what we need to be obedient to before anything else. 

• Keep reminding your teams that loving neighbors matters deeply. If the teams you lead run into difficult people or messy complicated lives Satan will tempt them into turning away with apathy or fear or responding in anger or frustration. Loving each other is the key to what God has truly called all of us to.  

• Know your purpose in God- why do you do what you do – is it to please man or is it to please God? We find our purpose by seeking God’s guidance through prayer, studying the Bible for wisdom, and using our spiritual gifts to honor God in service to others.  

• Pause before saying yes, seek God first- high-capacity volunteers and leaders are typically able to do more than others. However, that does not mean that God necessarily wants you to do more. Seek His will first. Don’t rush to the yes.  

• Lead from a place of rest– not from a place where you have to rest. Truly godly leaders prioritize rhythms of rest and Sabbath. Listen to yourself. If you are constantly saying how busy you are, if you are always running late, if your conversation is all about how you are tired, how exhausted you are, you may have prioritized the God of Busyness and bringing attention to yourself rather than from a place of rest where you can be the light to show people who Jesus is.  

• Keep praying—for endurance, joy, and unity. Praying without ceasing reminds us not to rely on our own strength, our own understanding, or wisdom. Praying for yourself to follow Jesus, for your team to help people to find and follow Jesus, and for the people they are serving to come to know how much Jesus loves them allows God to increase our faith and trust in Him. 

• Trust the promise: There will be a harvest. God calls us to join in the work as laborers. But we are not responsible for the harvest. We cannot put our place in God’s place. God directly oversees the growth and the outcome. He just calls us to be obedient to Him.  

Keep the light burning- do the one job of managing the challenge of leadership through posture, pausing before saying yes, rest, prayer, and trusting the promises of God.