The Principle of Delegation

Delegation Defined 

The Principle of Delegation is the idea that ministry is not something that we simply do on our own. Ministry is a group effort. With delegation one calls upon others to play a role in the ministry of the kingdom. Ministry is not meant to be a one man show, but a partnership. The task of ministry is too much for just one person. Those in a leadership role ought to recognize their own limits as well as recognize the value of input by others into their work. The Christian faith and the acts of ministry which are a part of the Christian faith are not to be carried out in isolation. Christianity as well as ministry is relational. 

Delegation Modeled in the Life of Jesus 

Jesus modeled the Principle of Delegation in his own life. Rather than taking the time to carry out every item on his agenda by himself, he asked for help, or rather he assigned various tasks for other people to perform on his behalf. This is seen especially when Jesus sends out the seventy-two into the various regions around the country in order to preach the good news of the kingdom and to heal people of diseases and to cast out demons among other tasks. Rather than going to each of these places himself Jesus stayed behind in order to work on whatever he needed to work on at the time. Instead of attempting to do the work of seventy-two different men, Jesus delegated these responsibilities out to different capable people whom he felt he could trust with these tasks.

Another example of Jesus following the Principle of Delegation can be seen in the stories of feeding of the large crowds. Jesus had his disciples go around and count how many people were present, and he also had his disciples go around and have every one sit down on the grass. He also had them distribute the food which he miraculously provided for everyone. It almost seems silly that Jesus would ask for the help of his disciples when he was powerful enough to create the food they were handing out. However, I think this goes to show that just because you are capable of doing something on your own that does not mean that you ought to do it on your own. There is great benefit for yourself and for those who help you when you ask for help.

Another example of Jesus delegating is when he sends two disciples to go find a donkey for him to ride into Jerusalem. They go and fetch it for him instead him getting it himself. Also, around this time Jesus sent Peter and John to go prepare the Passover meal for him and his disciple to eat, rather than him preparing the whole thing himself. He appears to have had every confidence in them and their ability to perform these tasks on his behalf.