1 Samuel 2:27 (NKJV)

“Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?”’”

We all need to be ministered to, but those who minister to others more earnestly need people to minister to them. It is crucial that we never walk alone, and that we always have people who can speak God’s word to us directly. The danger of being in leadership is that people may see where you are failing, but they lack the confidence to tell you. Many may talk about you behind your back, but they will not tell you. Some people may also fear the repercussions of telling you the truth. But you are blessed if God sends you people who are not afraid to bring you God’s undiluted word. You are blessed when someone takes it upon himself to speak God’s word of rebuke and correction to you. You are blessed to have people around you who are not afraid of you.

Eli’s sons had done such terrible things in Israel, and people knew it. People must have been talking about it, but no one dared to speak to Eli about it. Until God sent “a man of God.” One criterion of a true man of God is that he is never afraid to speak the truth. The man that God sends speaks God’s words – whether people like it or not. And so must we. We must never be afraid to speak the truth. We must never be scared to speak the truth to those in spiritual authority, but we must speak in love and respect. We are called “children of God” and ordained with the fire of God in our veins. We must not hold back. Leaders need to hear the truth. Leaders need to be told when they are getting it right, but also when they are missing it. Leaders need men of God who stand before God to declare God’s mind to men. If you are a leader, do you have such trustworthy and fearless men around you? Are you someone who speaks God’s word to your leaders? Ministering to ministers is a vital component of purifying God’s work. We need more ministers who minister to our leaders.