Stewards Care for Those They Lead By Howard Rich

Follower Care and Christ’s Example

Stewarding followers in an organization requires leaders to care for those under their leadership.

An Unexpected Email

Have you ever received an email late on a Friday afternoon that ruined your weekend?  I have. It can be very difficult to manage relaxation, relationships, and family time when a negative email is running wild in my mind.

I once received an email from the CEO of my organization on a Friday evening before a long holiday weekend. This email was very short, containing just a few words. My CEO stated his belief that we had a significant problem with an area of the organization under my leadership. This three-sentence email ended with the words “Have a great long weekend!”

Processing the Situation

The CEO and I were great friends. I trusted him implicitly, yet I wasn’t sure how to read the intention of the email.  It certainly didn’t instill a peaceful feeling or a sense that I could enjoy a “great long weekend.” This man had a pastor’s heart, and I had a choice. Was I going to let the words of that email get twisted in my mind ? Would I let fear and anxiety take over, or was I going to trust this man’s goodwill. And more importantly, was I going to reject the fear of man and look for God’s approval and acceptance?

What I decided to do is reflect on this passage,

“Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours…in your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.”

1 Chronicles 29:11-12,

Seeking Discernment

That weekend was hard. It certainly felt long as I kept choosing to reject the fear of man and accept the truth that man doesn’t set my course and determine my worth. The Lord of the Universe does. As the words of the email and the idea that the CEO thought we had a significant failure under my leadership kept popping up, and my anxiety would rise, I would go to the Lord in prayer seeking His approval. It was a hard weekend.

Leader Care

Once we made it through those days, I was able to clear up the CEO’s misunderstanding and alleviate his concerns. I also learned a wonderful lesson through that experience, which I have tried to put into action. In Luke 12:42-44, Jesus tells us the faithful steward will dutifully watch over and provide for those under his care. As leaders, we set the tone for those under our care.

One way I can care for others is to communicate in ways that don’t create unwarranted anxiety. This may sound small or trivial, but I don’t want those under my leadership to experience what I did on that “great long weekend.”

What can you do this week to care for the people God has entrusted you to lead?

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Howard Rich is the CFO of Amazi Water and the President of the Center for Steward Leader Studies. Howard is a lifelong advocate of generous living and desires to see Christians lead from a heart of stewardship and generosity.

Coming September 1 – October 31, 2025