Leadership Lessons: Expectations
PART THREE
“So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha’s house.” [2 Kings 5:9]
“But Naaman became angry and stalked away. I thought he would certainly come out to me! I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed? So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.” [2 Kings 5:11-12]
Naaman! Naaman! Naaman! He hasn’t even begun to learn his lesson yet! Look at the above references. He is still full of pride, arrogance, and haughtiness! Just count the number of times he uses the words “I” and “me”. Naaman goes to the prophet’s house, surrounded by his entourage, including horses and chariots, and gifts of silver, gold, and clothing.
The prophet, Elisha, does not even come out to meet or greet Naaman, much to Naaman’s dismay! Quietly, Elisha sends his messenger to the door to tell Naaman to go dip himself in the Jordan River seven times and then his leprosy will be healed. Think about that! The prophet’s messenger tells him the end of the story if he will just follow the simple instructions to go dunk himself in the Jordan River! But because Naaman had his own expectations of how this healing should occur, he stalked off angrily.
Expectations! Whether you see yourself in a leadership capacity or not, we all carry around expectations. I “expect” to be able to go fast in the left lane and pass other cars; I shouldn’t have to pass anyone from the right lane. I “expect” others to respect my time and be on time for the meeting. I “expect” a return phone call in a matter of hours from my voice mail message. I “expect” the server at the restaurant to give me their undivided attention, even though they have 15 other tables. Get the picture? Trust me, I’m talking to myself! Unrealistic expectations often lead to disappointment!
What “expectations” do you need to revisit? What “expectations” do you have of yourself that may not be realistic? What expectations do you have of God?
Although it’s not easy, it is worth the effort to discover the truth about our expectations of others and ourselves! Why not start today?
