1 Sam
8:10-18 (ESV) So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were
asking for a king from him. 11 He said, "These will be the ways of the
king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his
chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. 12 And he will
appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some
to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war
and the equipment of his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be
perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He
will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give
them to his servants. 15 He will take the tenth of your grain and of your
vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will take your
male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your
donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your flocks,
and you shall be his slaves. 18 And in that day you will cry out because of
your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer
you in that day."
NOTE: The idea of a
king is not bad. There are many good reasons to have a king. The problem is
that with most people, power goes to their head and they abuse their position.
The old phrase, "absolute power corrupts absolutely," is still true today.
While I doubt I will ever be in that position, although I was a squadron
commander once for three years, I'm not sure how valuable it is to consider
what causes or can prevent corruption. Clearly, Jesus' instructions about being
a servant-leader are very helpful. A leader should see himself, first as a
servant to others. Paul writes in
Philippian before discussion Jesus' actions, to consider others more important
than yourself. A servant would think of the other person first. A servant is
observant of other's needs. A servant does not puff himself up with thoughts of
his own importance but spends his time considering how he can help others.
Father, if you ever put me in that position again, help me to be a servant-leader.
I want to put others first and think of how I can help them to be successful. I
don't need to be "the man," but if I am, I pray it would an extension
of your son's life on earth.
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