JRM Sison Chapter - August 9, 2009 - Leadership in a Servant

A Nation in Need

Corruption - the word that has marked deeply in every Filipino people. Even a little child could identify corruption and sadly it is identified with the government at large. Though corruption is rampant also in many other business establishments, it is undeniably seen in most government officials:
     ·     A simple road rehabilitation that is worth 3 times its estimated project value.
     ·     Double insertion of projects to a single entity.
     ·     'Ghost' employees working in government office.
     ·     Buying out of votes.

Corruption is another brand to dirty political leaders. But can we blame them? Should we point our fingers to our leaders and blame them for our situation? Our nation is truly in need of change and reformation but where should we start? Is changing our leaders sufficient? Will a change of governance create a positive effect? What must we do to help our nation in need?

Leadership in a Servant (1 Samuel 24:1-8)

David, during the reign of King Saul, was second to the king after he killed Goliath. He was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of the king’s servants. But everything changed; after some time Saul became jealous of the success that David was thriving; that jealousy ate him up until he attempted to kill David; thus, a man without any cause to be judged or killed was hunted down. David, then, decided to leave Israel and hide himself from the wrath of King Saul.

As it came to pass, during Saul’s hunt for David, the Lord allowed Saul to be delivered in the hands of David; the king, unknowingly was bare in David’s presence and his men. It was a chance of a lifetime; the man who caused him persecution and problems was already in his hands; he can now rid of all his misery by just killing the man in front of him; all the pain and loneliness will be blotted out with a simple stroke of a knife or sword.

As David was looking at Saul, his men said unto him that the Lord has delivered his enemy into his hand. His men’s words pushed him to kill Saul. But as he nears the king, he tried his knife by cutting off part of the skirt of Saul’s robe secretly; the knife was so sharp that the king never suspected anything. But instead of cutting Saul, David became hesitant and was cut at the heart by the Lord. He said unto his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” Even if he can change his future, he still has to listen to the still small voice of God.

It was a difficult decision for a man to reverse his action. David was determined to kill Saul but God forbid him to do it. His life was so in-tuned with God that he was sensitive on God’s moving. In a short time, God allowed David to remember that it was not his job to change the governance of the king; God revealed to David that God will do the justification; all David had to do is to trust God and touch not the anointed of God.

David was a servant with a leader’s heart. He couldn’t touch the anointed one but wouldn’t subject to the evil desire of the king. It was easy for David to gain the throne but he knew that is not God’s way. He allowed the Lord to move in his life; to decide what to do. All David had to do is TRUST God. Though he trusts God, he couldn’t trust Saul. There is a difference between a rebellious heart and a distrustful heart; a rebel can not subject himself nor trust the ones in authority but a distrustful heart can subject himself yet distrust the authority.

What then should we do to help our country in need?

Man’s Demise

Genesis 1:26 states that God created man to have dominion over all the earth. It was God’s first command to man; BE A LEADER. Truly that God wanted every one to lead but sin crept in and distorted this command of leadership; instead of man subduing the earth, it is man who is being subdued by the earth. The earth and everything in it is subject to us but what happened? Man began to worship:
     ·     nature and animals,
     ·     material things,
     ·     other men and women, and
     ·     angels and spirits.

Though it is God’s design for man to be a leader, sin teaches man to be slaves of the world. They become servants of sin. When they hear God’s Word and realized the Truth, they shy away saying something like these, “I am not worthy to go to church”, “God will not accept someone like me”. Their foolish pride steps in because their ways are being corrected.

Christians differ not with unbelievers in terms of pride. Sometimes Christians are more proud than unbelievers for they know how to reason out, scripture versus scripture (making scripture as scrip-tor-ture). Their knowledge defeats their faith. Their leadership position become stronger than their humbled calling. They forgot what Jesus had said, “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:4)”.

The Servant-Leader

During the ministry-years of Jesus, He made Himself as an example to all of us; whosoever wants to be great must be the least. He served His disciples to point that leadership is not only about issuing commands but more on serving. Leadership, as Jesus taught it, is humbled service with authority.

Though David had the upper-hand, he never considered himself as the leader of Israel, not while King Saul holds the throne. For David, leadership is subjection to authority. As Peter wrote it in 1 Peter 2:18, “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle but also to the forward.”

Thou Shalt Have Good Success

Brethren, it is not about complaining about our government or to our political leaders. It is not about impeaching the president or having political rallies to oust the unwanted leaders. It is not about them. It is about us. It is about you and me.

Change happens once it is done inwardly. A drop of water causes the whole river to ripple. Even if there will be a change of governance yet the people have no change of heart, corruption will remain. Even if prayers were offered to heal the land yet Christians have no change of heart, corruption will remain. Even if massive discussions, conferences, rallies and conventions about political change yet the heart remains unchanged, corruption will be rampant.

David knew the corruption that happened to Israel through the leadership of King Saul. But he didn’t file an impeachment complaint; he never led a rally to oust the king. He subjected himself to the rule of the king yet distances himself from any evil intent from the king’s governance. David knew how to listen to the Lord. He knew that through humility and fear of the Lord are riches and honour and life (Proverbs 22:4). He knew that through listening to God’s Word, meditating in it day and night, he will have good success (Joshua 1:8).

Do you feel the need of change in our nation’s political situation? Do you feel the need of change in our country’s government? Then, there is only one solution; change our ways. Let us see in the perspective of God not ours. Let us learn to listen rather than to complain. Let us learn to change rather than to blame. Our leaders, though they are dirty and corrupt, are still lost souls. Let us pray for them and allow the Holy Spirit to change us and our views about authority.