Peter Scazzero’s book The Emotional Healthy Leader covers significant facets of a leader’s life to ensure effective and spiritually healthy leadership. He reminds ministry leaders that while you might be working so hard to grow the Kingdom and serve others, that can be very dangerous if you do not have some fundamental and foundational boundaries. In Matthew 9:35-38, Jesus reminds us that there are few laborers.
Yet, Scazzero reminds us that we must build a sabbath into our ministry and not get blinded by focusing on the limited laborers and taking too much on. I am surrounded by people whose identity is in their work. And I’m not even talking about people in vocational ministry. Coming from a place of scarcity, or, as Scazzero calls it, their shadow, are workaholics. While some view it as a work ethic, it could also come from a place of fear.
I try to keep Sunday holy and not work unless there is an exception. What convicted me with Scazzero’s sabbath argument was that I focused on “paid work” and not “unpaid work” or chores I neglected during the week or even seminary classwork. Sabbath was made for man (Mark 2:27) so we/I could reconnect with the Lord. Scazzero also suggested making fun lists to go through so that, as a believer, I can reconnect with the Creator through the glory of His creation.
Scazzero also recommends that we/I work out of the strength in my marriage. He argues that you cannot healthily serve the Lord if your marriage (or singleness) is dying. I can attest to this. In all my discipleship training, keeping the vertical relationship is the first priority, and then the second is your spouse. Keeping this priority right, I have found my marriage a source of life and encouragement vs. draining and contentment. I also agree with Scazzero that being one, you have more strength and power to do ministry together versus a he/she dynamic.
Establishing healthy boundaries is vital to protecting your marriage/singleness and sabbath. Scazzero suggests writing these down to plan what to walk out of clearly. He also suggests revisiting them periodically to ensure they are honored and achieving the desired outcomes.
The final item that resonated was properly understanding your shadow as it affects your marriage and work. Scazzero calls it a shadow as your brokenness and developmental traumas follow you around. A healthy understanding of your journey and what affects your emotions and actions is key to your spiritual formation. There is hope that the brightness of Jesus’ light removes the prominence of my shadow.
To be a healthy leader, you need to understand and practice these key takeaways. As I have personally added these practices to my walk, I have seen the fruit and growth in my walk with the Lord and my relationship addressing these. While I realize I still have ways to go, Scazzero has great wisdom to help in spiritual growth and spiritual formation.
