There’s a time to sit down and make a plan, but then there’s a time to move into action! We examined planning in our last issue; now we will look at when it’s time to move. Consider this account from the prophet Haggai. This is what the LORD Almighty says: "These people say, 'The time has not yet come for the LORD's house to be built.'" Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD (Haggai 1:2-8)

The plans for the temple were available but the people said that it wasn’t yet time to act. God’s response, through the prophet, was that it was time to move! God’s rebuke provides principles that help servant leaders know when it’s time to move into action.

It’s time to move when current priorities are wrong.

"Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" The prophet rebuked the people for building their own homes when God’s house was in disrepair. God reminded them that it was not right for them to have well built homes while the temple was in disrepair. It was time for them to move on to the building of the temple. This was an issue of priorities. They were busy with activities that were less important and this kept them from moving on to better things. It is easy to stay busy with things that seem important; it is more difficult to know when it’s time to change our focus. Servant leaders ask if the activity they are doing is actually God’s priority for their lives. If not, they move to the one that is.

It’s time to move when the current approach is not working.

God reminds the people that they were in trouble. "Give careful thought to your ways.” They had serious problems but they failed to see the relationship between their misplaced priorities and the unpleasant circumstances they were in. It was time to move and make a change! Servant leaders can persevere when that is the need. But they also are willing to look around and acknowledge that their current actions are not moving them in the right direction. They do not accept the current situation as the ideal. They see that it is time to change!

It’s time to move when God’s direction is clear.

God made His direction very clear to the people. “Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house…” He called the people to action, not thinking or planning. God’s direction is not always logical or in line with our reasoning. His direction may not always match the plans we have made. But when His direction is clear, it’s time to move! Servant leaders look for God’s direction and when it is clear they refuse to allow other priorities, lack of resources, or a busy schedule to keep them from following in obedience.

Plan well and then move into action. Unless it is clear that it is time to wait, it’s time to move!

For further reflection and discussion:

• Is my natural tendency to plan or to act? How does that impact my leadership and what can I do to balance the two?
• Is there a project or task I am doing now that keeps me from doing a more important activity? If it is time for a change, what needs to happen?
• In what ways is my current approach working well? In what ways is it not working well? Are the challenges I am facing a call to persevere or a call to change directions?
• Are there any areas in which God has clearly indicated His direction to me and I have not yet moved into action? If yes, what has kept me from moving and what will I change to walk in obedience? If God has not clearly indicated direction, have I taken the time to listen?