Sunday, 14 January 2007

The Adult's Sunday School Class - Proverbs 22:7 Rich man...poor man. There has always been a tension between those who have and those who don't.

Scripture reading: #654

Vesper's - a one hour study @ 5 p.m. on Sundays: Matthew 7:1 Join our verse-by-verse study through the Sermon on the Mount!

Wednesday, @ 7 - 8 p.m. A class on "Anger: the theological, psychological, emotional and social aspects of our temper."

Able, Truthful & Honest  (Ex18.17-27)

17. Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. 18. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him.

20. Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. 21. But select capable men from all the people--men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain--and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

22. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied."

24. Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25. He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.  26. They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.

27. Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.

Verse 21 boiled it all down to these requirements: “… select capable people - who fear God, trustworthy & who hate dishonest gain…”  “Able, truthful & honest.”

Requirements for leadership! How well are our elected leaders, at any level, doing in these categories? We MUST hold each of them accountable, regardless of whether or not they are part of your favorite 'party.'

Moses was given instruction by his father-in-law on how to avoid burn-out and how to protect the people from 'leadership' fatigue.

What an astute observation from Moses' father-in-law, perhaps almost 3500 years ago.

People can, and do, get absolutely worn out from inadequate leadership. Some leadership styles can leave you tired and irritable.

The first requirement is for us to "select capable leaders from all the people--leaders who will fear God, be trustworthy, hate dishonesty and greed..."

This month our nation celebrates and observes Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This is fitting as Dr. King was an outstanding example of leadership which arose for the occasion. He, like Esther in the Old Testament, was undoubtedly 'brought to the kingdom for such a time' as his in the 1960's.

It is imperative, whether it is leadership in the church, school board, city, county, state or federal elected positions that we hold all our leaders to this standard - "...capable...who fear God, be trustworthy, hate dishonesty and greed..." 

Human nature leads us to excuse behavior from someone we like - while dealing harshly with someone we don't like who exhibits similar behavior.

We must deal fairly and consistently in applying our expectations of leadership. While no one is perfect - there is a level of competence, trust, truth, and ethical business practice which we must demand from leadership at all levels. "Of whom much is given, much is required."

Almost everyone recognizes that verse, or at least that portion of the verse. The last part of the verse is not often included in the quote: "...From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Luke 12:48 N.I.V.

They wanted the job and have 'been entrusted with much...' Now, lest they wear us out, let's hold them accountable for lack of competence, breach of trust, untruthfulness, and unethical business practices.

If anyone should be above reproach in all their dealings, it must be those who have 'been entrusted with much.'

It is imperative that Christians learn from the examples of men such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and raise the voice of moral outrage demanding moral authority and behavior on the part of our leaders!

Moral outrage!!

If we don't, the efforts of Dr. King and the many others down through the years will have been in vain. It requires constant vigilance because evil triumphs easily when good people do nothing.

I do believe we are at a crucial point in our nation's existence. Our greatest threat isn't terrorism - Palms 91:5. “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6. nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.”

Nor is it immigration - Exodus 22:21.  "Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt. 22. "Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. 23. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry.”

It is woefully inadequate leadership at virtually all levels in our society.

God, please give us men and women who are capable, who fear God and are trustworthy, who hate dishonesty and greed. And give us the good sense to vote for them regardless of their political party affiliation!