Rulers and Nations

Rulers are representatives of God on earth. They are ordained by God to rule and reign over the subjects given by God. It is interesting to ponder into this fact of leadership and nations. Sometimes leadership is likened to the man on the steer who takes you on a way that is safe and will help you reach the destination. When I said leaders are representation of God on earth it means that they are here to keep the standards of God. But what if they are forgetting this very fact and do things that they like? Nations will plummet into destruction!

The time that we are living in, people around the world are scared, discouraged and disheartened by the things that are happening around them. Peace has become a rare commodity. Day after day the dailies come with people being killed and nations in chaos. The picture that we get to see of a day is not at all pleasant.  Even the nations that were known for peace and stability are on the news for the wrong reason. Am I trying to blame a people group or anyone? No!  What I’m trying to portray is the relationship between the leader and the nations that they lead. To explain it I would like to cite a story from the bible. Solomon was a king who was renowned for his wisdom and riches. People from different parts of the world would come to listen to his wisdom. He had the best of what one can get at that time. Starkly, towards the end of his life we don’t get to see a pleasant ending.  We see there is turmoil in the kingdom. We see people who till that time enjoying his reign resenting his rule. Now, what went wrong that Solomon lost his Glory? God had asked him specifically to lead his people in Godly ways. He didn’t want any other God being worshipped in Israel. Solomon choose to rebel against God who made him what he was. A reason that starkly stands out in the life of Solomon for his destruction is the love of “Self!” He lusted after women; he married women that he liked. “Self” can destroy you as a leader.  If you are too much of yourself you are on the path of destruction.

Now let’s move on to another leader from the bible. His name is Jeroboam who was the son of a servant at Solomon’s palace. We see that he is made the ruler of the Israel. He had the opportunity to lead the people in righteousness. But what did he do? In 1 king 12 we find him planning something immoral. He makes sure that people don’t worship the living God by creating an idol for them. By this he makes sure that he has allegiance of the people. Thirst for power can corrupt character. You can lead people away from God if you are thirsty for power. Jeroboam’s biggest concern was “what would I do if the people would leave me?” “What is the point being the king?” Imagine if Jeroboam had given His concern to God? For that we need to study the Character of our Eternal King - Lord Jesus. In the book of Philippians 2:6-9 it is said Jesus could have clung onto His divinity. He could have sat in the heavens as a God but he emptied himself to become like a man. Jesus was not thirsty for power. Jesus gave it up and later on we read that he is made higher than any other and every knee will bow before Him. Jeroboam is remembered for leading the people to sin. Jesus is remembered for rescuing people from sin.

As a leader it is imperative that you would be known for good. Recently when I read about the president of the US of America – Barack Obama making gay and lesbian marriage legal, the thought that that came to my mind was that where is he taking the nation? Please don’t get me wrong here, no i don't hate gays or lesbians! I would love them as Christ has asked me to love them. But I’m against what they do. I’m against their act because it is blatant disobedience to ordinances of God. Barack Obama would be known for his landmark decision but I shudder at the consequence of it. Adam the first man of creation made a landmark decision of eating from the prohibited fruit. If that were to happen at this time he would be hailed a hero, just because of he went against the flow. But I believe every time a crime happens here on earth his heart would cringe. It was the consequence of his one decision that put the whole mankind is under sin. That is a great and heavy burden to bear. As a leader you should think about the consequences of your decision. 

God puts leaders in places so that they can lead people to God. Here in India, we are watching a turn in the political atmosphere. It is sad to see leaders going behind things that are non-essential. It is the right of every citizen that he or she lives a safe life. No matter what they are, which community, gender or religion that they represent. Now I would sound hypocrite if I’m saying this and the paragraph above I had written about gays and lesbians. What about their freedom? They need to be free able to take decision, live safely where they are! But I would stand against their belief in their sexual desire. Which God prohibits, I would not want them to be killed or abused because they are like that. I would not want to look down on them. But I want them to look up to heaven because our life just doesn’t end here. We have an eternity. 

Leaders wherever you are, nation, state, church, college, school think about your people. As a leader you would want the people under you to feel safe, respected and honored. If they don’t then you need to think of your leadership. Leadership is not given to us to jump on the heads of people. It is an opportunity to serve God’s people. Value them! You have been placed by God to lead them in righteousness, peace and ultimately back to God. We are just pointers to God. If God is not revealed through our life, we have lived an unsuccessful life! Listen to warning that God gives us in the book of Jeremiah 23: 1-4

“Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are [a]tending My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” declares the Lord. 3 “Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will also raise up shepherds over them and they will [b]tend them; and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord.

What is my intention?

These days I have been reading the book of Job during my morning quiet time with God. Maybe some of you might have some idea about the book of Job. If not, let me give you a brief story of Job in the bible. The Holy Scripture says that Job was a righteous man. He was god fearing and wealthy in his time. So one day satan goes to the presence of God and tells him that it is because of God’s blessings that makes job follow Him and if he is to take it off from job, he will reject God. Eventually, after hearing satan's case, God allows satan to touch Job’s possessions but not his life. Soon, satan wrecks havoc in job’s life, everything that he owned is destroyed and even his own children are killed. Job has sores all over his body and he is in great pain. At this time seeing his plight three of Job’s friends reach out to comfort him.

In this meeting with Job, his friends criticize him saying that it is because of his disobedience that he is suffering. He is hailed with condemnation by his friends. If you would listen to what his friends had to say, you will find that they were saying the right things. But there was something wrong in what they were trying to do, their intention were not right! Bible tells us that job was a blameless person before everyone.

He didn’t go steal, kill or do any kind of harm to anyone. Sadly, his friends were trying to provoke him to think that it is because of job’s sins that tragedy had hit his home. A lesson that I learnt in my life in this scenario is “do I advise people with right intentions?” Why do I say what I say? What is the intention behind it? When I thought about it there have been instances in my life where I was saying the right thing with the wrong intentions!

Wrong intentions are poison within us, it stop us from growing. We might be saying the wisest thing in the whole world but if it is backed by wrong intention the whole point of saying it is gone! Just gone! When we try to create guilt inside a person through our advice or want to prove that the other person is totally wrong. The more bitter we get! And, sometimes we might loose the person. We as children of God are called to be wise with our words and intentions. Trust me, if we are to speak with genuine concern and love it will bring about a great difference in a person's life! Even when I write this let me tell you I'm also pushing myself to be more careful, a little more cautious when I speak. Scripture in the book of Proverbs 18:21 says that death and life is in the power of tongue! If we have such dynamite power in this small organ in our body let us be more careful.

Let me close this with this one real life story. Recently one of my friend, met with an accident and was taken to hospital.On reaching the hospital the doctor told her it is because of her negligence (when it was not the actual case) that accident had happened. She was then taken to a ward where she was shown other patients and the doctor said like this “you should consider lucky, only little (few wounds) has happened to you compared to them!” 

Watch your Doctrine!

We are living in times in which we hear different kinds of messages spoken from the pulpit. We have the prosperity messages, the grace messages and many others that don’t take prominence. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against any of these messages unless it topples over to the extremes.  The point that I like to make here is that we can speak what we want, provided there are people, place and position. But all that we speak might not be good to the body of Christ. It can hamper its growth. Can we do whatever we feel like in the church? The answer is big “No!” God has given us the authority to speak things that will nurture the church, its people and help in the advancing of Christ’s kingdom.

Today morning I was reading 1 Timothy 4:16 “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.” (NASB) In this particular verse we find Paul teaching timothy four things.

1.  Pay close attention  to yourself
2.  Pay attention to what you teach
3. Persevere in doing the two above
4. Ensure the salvation of your people and yourself

I would like to expound on these four requirements that Paul expects from timothy. Paying close attention to our own life is what we least do. We would like to watch other’s life, write comments about it and bicker that “no one is good!” But what Paul instructed Timothy was “Timothy, please guard your life!” Why was Paul so particular about it? To get a clearer picture of it bring your thoughts to the present times, what do we see around us? We see many falling, both Lay and fire brand preacher! Why is that so? This happens when we forget the fact that we need to rein our lives. Exactly what Paul was asking Timothy to do! Rein your life, bridle your thoughts, and restrain your actions! When we forget this fundamental thing in our life, we place ourselves in great jeopardy. If you are working for company what does your life speak? If you are a minister at church or in any ministry what does your life speak? This day God is asking us to take responsibility of our lives. We need to be aware that our lives are been watched and learnt from. If we are planning to raise a godly generation, we must start doing it now with our lives first! We must keep our lives accountable – to God and to man! I can’t run away from my responsibility from being a godly man in this godless generation. I need to evaluate what am I doing with my life? Where am I standing in my life? What is the message that my life gives? I need to do a self-appraisal of my life!

The music fades, lights turn on and every eye and ear is drawn to this shadowy figure that comes onto the stage. The spot light is turned towards this shadowy figure and in front of you stands a young man with charming smile and the whole place is drowned by the applauds of people admiring him. Here comes the preacher of our times! As ears wait anxiously, he starts speaking, word after word. Soon an hour passes, he walks away leaving an elated crowd. I sometime wonder where we have forgotten to speak the heart of God rather than messages that can increase crowds or will excite the ears and minds of people. Have we forgotten to rightly divide the word of God? To give the word of God as it is! Why do we have to polish and embellish the message to suit the likings of people? Did we forget that every wrong message that is given by the preacher or teacher can end up sending people to hell? Paul instructed Timothy to take responsibility of his (Timothy’s) message. He didn’t allow him to speak whatever he felt or came to his mind. He asked Timothy to scrutinize the word before presenting to his congregation lest he should lead them straight to hell. As the scripture says it is the truth that saves (John 8:32). And as minsters of God if we do not take the responsibility to speak the right Word, we are waiting for God’s judgment and wrath. We are not called to speak our gospel.  If you are someone who is doing this or have done this I beg of you to turn away. We won’t lose anything if we have to lose few people in our congregation. Imagine if we have to give up our eternity with God, that would be the greatest lose and failure in our life.

Do I say that I’m exempt from all this because I have written this? No! I have the same responsibility as you have, to live the right lifestyle and give the right word. I can’t live a life of sin. As Paul instructs Timothy to persevere in the right doctrine or teaching. I too have to persevere, with me you will have to. We are God’s team, more than representing our church or ministry we’re representing the kingdom of God. If we are doing anything that detrimental to it then we’re actually misrepresenting the kingdom of God, God, His character and everything He represents. What does persevere mean? “Whatever happens I’m going to keep on going and I will accomplish what I desired” simply it means “never giving up attitude.” Even if the whole world is speaking a message contrary to the word of God, I should stand for God. We might be beaten, mocked or disassociated; even then we have to persevere. It's heart of God for us to stand for the truth. Persevere in leading a life that is sinless! Today’s world invites us to galore of temptations! We are seeing immorality on the rise; the enticing desires of the eye can become cumbersome on our walk with God. Still. God is asking us to persevere. We have a great reward with God if we will persevere.

Last but not the least, Paul concludes by saying “Timothy if you do the above, you are going to ensure the salvation of people and yourself.” As ministers of God it is also our responsibility to ensure the salvation of people that we see on Sunday and other days. What does ensure mean? Oxford says “make certain of obtaining or providing” if you are a pastor or teacher of the word. It becomes your responsibility to ensure that people in your congregation walks with God. Is it something hard to do? I believe it is not! Why?  We have the spirit of God in us, who would lead us to victory. Praise God! What a God we have! With God we do not have to struggle to be victorious! If we walk with God daily and listen to him we are going to lead a life of victory, seeing our walk there would be people who would want to follow the truth. Be ready to rightly divide the word of God. Be ready to walk away from sin. God is waiting for a generation of people who can walk in the truth, are we that generation? 

-Vinal Raj R