The Bible encourages us to surround ourselves with wise counsel — those who are gifted in areas where we lack. But why is it so difficult to let go?
Trust and technology go hand in hand. Still, we often don’t know who to trust. Or we don’t think we need to trust because we already know the subject.
Trust me: we need to know who to trust, and we need to trust. (See what I did there?)
Case in point: I know very little about my car. While I “get” the mechanics and physics of an internal combustion engine, I lack tremendously in their application. I know what’s supposed to happen when I turn the key. (Yes, I still turn the key because I drive a vintage car.) But if the anticipated outcome doesn’t happen — if the engine won’t turn over — I’m stuck.
As an IT guy, that might sound surprising. Sure, newer cars are glorified computers — but their application into the engine is (as best I can tell) mere magic.
So, what does an IT guy do when his vintage car needs fixing? I could Google it and try to fix it myself. (You can stop laughing now.) Or I could Google it and then take it to a mechanic and ask him to do what Google said. Or I could take it to a mechanic and argue with him about what he thinks is wrong based on my limited understanding. Or I could take it to a mechanic, get his diagnosis, learn what I need to learn about maintaining my car, and then trust him to do the repair.
The trust factor is where it all usually flies apart — and not just with mechanics; I’ve seen a lack of trust in many areas. Many times, churches struggle with trusting an expert versus trusting a volunteer who “knows all about it.” Other times the issue is an unwillingness to pay for trusted advice. (My mechanic isn’t free. But without him, my vintage car wouldn’t still be running.)
Who do you trust when it comes to technological decisions and applications?
Do you have a trusted resource, either internally or externally? Or does your trusted resource change depending on the who or the what?
There is also a difference between being a Berean, as in the Bible, and being dismissive of what experts or trusted resources are telling you. Today, we study Paul’s epistles as part of Scripture; but the church in Berea, in Acts 17, was not only willing to review what Paul taught — they also diligently examined the Scriptures for themselves. Many times, across all aspects of ministry, it seems that leaders are less excited to examine and more excited to argue, leading to a lack of trust.
It’s wise to surround yourself with those who have skills and abilities you lack. But if you find yourself arguing with them, then perhaps it’s time to either replace those resources or evaluate why you don’t trust them. We’re not talking about blindly following; however, if it takes you hours to evaluate whether or not you trust the advice you’re being given, then it might be wise to evaluate why you’re spending that much time.
I’m just an IT guy, so I don’t spend much time arguing with those around me who help me with things like my car. I want to learn from them, and I trust them.
In a church and otherwise, when a lack of trust creeps in, bad decisions get made. As a result, it often costs twice as much to follow good advice after you’ve followed bad advice — even if that bad advice was you not listening to good advice in the first place.
Find a technology resource you can trust, and then lean on them
Whether internal or external, find a technology resource you can depend on to help you make wise decisions and maximize ministry funds. You might even want in-house and outside-of-house advisors so you can objectively evaluate the answers to your questions — but be a Berean.
Be excited to receive wise counsel, not to argue with it. And be diligent to review. The Berean church reviewed and applied; today, many churches review forever, lacking application.
This side of heaven, the Bible is our sole source of truth. It encourages us to surround ourselves with wise counsel from the body — counsel who is gifted in areas where we lack.
Find those folks. Learn from them. Lean on them. And finally, trust them so that your ministry and impact can grow.
Jonathan Smith is the President of MBS, Inc. and the Director of Technology at Faith Ministries in Lafayette, Ind. He is an author and frequent conference speaker. Follow him on X @JonathanESmith.
