Monday, July 14, 2014

An apology to the king


Few things get under my skin more quickly than someone who enjoys the perks of their position a little too much. I once traveled to a conference to hear a well-known Christian pastor speak. When I saw him arrive in a luxury vehicle with a driver, attended by two men who carried his coat and briefcase, I lost my desire to hear what he had to say.  I had no respect for him in that moment.  


But, in my years of maturity I have learned a balancing lesson – God wants humility in me that respects His gift of leadership and authority invested in those people that appear not to deserve it!


David’s humility and respect for “God’s anointing” makes for fascinating reading. He was promised the crown as a teenage boy, was called to serve in King Saul’s court, and then endured years of abuse at the hands of the jealous and mad king!  One day, when David was a fugitive, Saul and his security men came near where David was hiding at En Gedi.  Here’s the story.
"At the place where the road passes some sheepfolds, Saul went into a cave to relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding farther back in that very cave!
“Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today the Lord is telling you, ‘I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’ ”  From all appearances, this is the time to finally claim the kingdom, right?  Read on.

So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe. But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. “The Lord knows I shouldn’t have done that to my lord the king,” he said to his men. “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king and attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.”

So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul. After Saul had left the cave and gone on his way, David came out and shouted after him, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked around, David bowed low before him. Then he shouted to Saul, “Why do you listen to the people who say I am trying to harm you? This very day you can see with your own eyes it isn’t true. For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you. For I said, ‘I will never harm the king—he is the Lord’s anointed one.’ Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me." (1 Samuel 24:3-11, NLT)

Throughout the Scripture, a principle is underscored repeatedly – God gives authority and He blesses those who respect it -  in the home and family, in the Church, and from the government.

When we feel that we must disagree with someone in authority we need to check ourselves for maturity, humility, and discernment.  Too often we resist authority for no better reason that simply being rebellious.  We just like to have our own way!  Of course, there are times when a principle of justice that requires us to speak truth to power, but even then we should show respect for the position. Americans take pride in their freedom and rightly so.  However, our wide streak of independence makes us a difficult people to lead when we forget that ultimately authority flows from God Himself.

In one of the passages of the New Testament that stirs up controversy, the Holy Spirit teaches Christians to be good citizens.  The words there are doubly challenging when we remember that the first readers lived in the Roman Empire where authority of the government was often abused and used to oppress the Church.  Never the less, God called on those disciples to show respect for authority.

"Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you’re trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear. Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible citizen and you’ll get on just fine, the government working to your advantage. But if you’re breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren’t there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. That’s why you must live responsibly—not just to avoid punishment but also because it’s the right way to live. That’s also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders." (Romans 13:1-7, The Message)

Is your life submitted to God?
Does it show in your respect for those who hold authority?

Here’s a word from the Word. "Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family.

Revere God. Respect the government. You who are servants, be good servants to your masters—not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. … This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. " (1 Peter 2:13-21, The Message)

Lord, help us to understand Your will and to live with humility, for Christ’s sake. Amen.

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