February 3
Ex 17:8-19:15 | PS 27:7-14 | Prov 6:27-35 | Matt 22:34-23:12
Proper leadership is imperative for success. This is the case whether talking about leaders of a nation, leaders of a company, or leaders in a church. Often what causes one to rise to leadership is for reasons that are not deemed worthy: longevity with a company, rubbing shoulders with the right people, underhanded incentives or favors, etc. When leadership is faulty this will often trickle down to every facet of the nation or organization. In today's reading we will read that leaders should be those who fear God, hate bribes, are honest and capable. We will also learn that leaders should be servant minded, not be prideful or hypocrites. For those who are leaders, we should wisely consider those comments levied towards teachers, as we read the warning in James 3:1, "Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly." Being a leader comes with responsibility, and one should prayerfully consider this before trying to climb the ladder in one's own strength or one's ability to manipulate the system. If one is called to leadership then it is a beautiful calling but comes with consequences: both good and bad.
Moses was called to lead the people of Israel and in humility and servant-mindedness was dedicated to that position. But like any very large organization the tasks required became too many. HIs father-in-law, Jethro, gave excellent advice in Exodus 18:19-21, "Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people’s representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. Teach them God’s decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten." But we find Jesus confronting the leaders, around 1400 years later, and we see He had much to say, as we read in Matthew 23:2-4, "The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden." They had the knowledge but were hypocrites with no shortage of demands, but no desire to do or help. We then read of their pride in 23:5-7, "Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’"
Jesus gives the clear instructions and qualifications in Matthew 23:11-12, "The greatest among you must be a servant. But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." If one desires to be a leader for the money, it will never be enough, and many will fail. If one desires to be a leader for the accolades, they will never be enough, and they will always stop one day. As long as one maintains a conscience everyone knows themselves: their motives, their actions that no one other than God sees, and they must answer to themselves and to God. It isn't even how history judges them, because history can get it wrong. We must all one day come before God and give an account of what we have done with the life and the time that He has gifted us (and it is a gift). We should all desire to hear the words in Matthew 25:21, "The master was full of praise. 'Well done, my good and faithful servant." Whether employer or employee, whether president of a nation or citizen, whether leader in a church or congregant, we might not all be called to leadership, but we are called to serve in whatever capacity God has called us to. May we be faithful to this calling.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: