"Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, 'Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.'" -Genesis 10.8-9
We don't know much about Nimrod. We only see the name in scripture in two other places. But here in these two verses we see some things that hopefully can be said of each of us.
One we see that Nimrod was "a mighty one on the earth." He was strong and powerful. He wasn't normal or average, but exceptional. He stood out, and people knew who he was. When people spoke of him it was with honor and respect. They knew he was mighty, and spoke of him using that word.
But we see something else, he wasn't just mighty, but he lived with a fear and reverence toward God. He lived before the Lord, and people saw this, and spoke of it as well. Nimrod wasn't just physically impressive, but spiritually as well. People respected his power, but also his love of God. It wasn't something he hid out of shame, but allowed others to see it.
Men, we have been made in the image of God, and given strong, mighty hearts. We are powerful, and we are dangerous, made for battle and leadership. And if we use our power for good, we will be respected, loved, and spoken well of. But there is more to life than getting recognition for ourselves. We live to give glory to God.
When people spoke of Nimrod, they spoke of the God he served. He didn't bring shame to the name of God, but honor. He lived as a man before God, and displayed the powerful masculine heart of God. When people saw Nimrod, no one thought God was a weak sissy. And Nimrod showed that weak sissies aren't the only ones who live passionately for God.
You don't have to be a hunter to be mighty. You can be mighty in anything that you do. You don't have to be a rugged outdoors man, to truly be a man. If you live to serve and always strive to better the lives of others, you will be spoken well of. But it is crucial that you live not for your own glory, if you do, you miss the point. Our lives our given to us so that we might give glory to God. Everything we do is to point others to Him.
So may we be mighty men before the Lord in all that we do. May we live to glorify Him, and better the lives of all we meet.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Showing posts with label Power. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Power. Show all posts
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Friday, November 22, 2013
The Way of the Wild Heart, Chapter 12: King, part 3
"Regardless of age, position, or natural abilities, a man is ready to become a King only when his heart is in the right place. Meaning, yielded to God."
This is absolutely crucial because of the role a King is to play. Power is not given to a King for his comfort and pleasure, but rather so he can bless and serve the people. The king exists for the people, not the people for the king. The King is in power to serve and protect the people of his kingdom. "That is what a good King does - he uses all he has to make his kingdom like the kingdom of heaven for the sake of the people who live under his rule... For the sake of his people. That is why a man is given a kingdom. We are given power and resources and influence for the benefit of others." Plan and simple, leadership is all about serving.
"Too many men, having reached this point in their journey - or rather, finding themselves Kings even though they have not taken the masculine journey - seize the opportunity to make life good... for themselves. The average man in his forties or fifties comes into a little power and influence, a little discretionary cash, and he spends it making himself comfortable... He works if he has to, but the purpose of his labors is only to build his savings so that he can lead a life of leisure... There is a sense of entitlement that seems to come with the forties and fifties. The man has worked hard to get here, and something in him says, Hey - I've paid my dues. Now it's my turn to have some fun.... This is not why a man is given power and property."
Look at the world, and this is all you see. I could so easily list example after example of this, but I won't, because I really don't need to. A heart unyielded to God is selfish, and sees power as the opportunity to advance itself. Everything is about happiness and comfort, the way it wants life to be. But that is the opposite of what the role of King should look like. Jesus said it best in Matthew 20.
"But Jesus called them to Himself and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many'" (verses 25-28).
The context, right before this the mother of James and John asks Jesus to command that her two sons sit at his right and left hand when the Kingdom comes in its fullness. The other disciples hear this and angry with the two, and so Jesus tells them the real reason for leadership, serving others. And He says that even He, God in the flesh, did not come to be served but to serve, and not only that, but to die for the sins of the world. How many leaders do you know that have done that?
"But that is the true test of a King. Simply put, the test is this: what is life like for the people under his authority? Really. It's that simple. What is life like for the people in his kingdom? Have a look at his wife - is she tired, stressed out, overlooked? What about his children - are they flourishing? How much energy does he spend simply getting his children to behave, verses understanding their hearts and looking for ways to bless them? Talk to the people who work for him - do they feel they are simply building his kingdom, or that he is serving them? Are they growing in their own talents and abilities, joyful because they are cared for, given a place in the kingdom? If he is a pastor, look at his congregation - are they enjoying the genuine freedom and life Christ promised? Or is the unspoken system of the church one of fear, guilt, and performance?
A king is put in power to serve his people, to bless them, and to make their lives better and safer. Is this happening? Which of these options looks more like the kingdom you're leading, or part of? I've spent time in both, more time in the later sadly, but my desire is to be a good King. I want my wife to know she is cherished, and I want to bless my children. If I get to lead a church again, I want them to enjoy the freedom that is in Christ and grow daily into Christlikeness. I want my staff to grow and love what they do, to be proud to build the Kingdom by my side.
"When you look at the lives of bad kings... Life is all about them. The kingdom revolves around their happiness. You know they didn't wake each morning to ask themselves, 'What good can I do for others today with the power and wealth I have?' But this is the question a good king asks. It requires a holiness most men simply don't desire."
If you seek to be a good king, you must desire, more than anything else, holiness. It is the only way to selflessly serve. Without it selfishness rules the heart, abuses power, and neglects the people. The kingdoms of bad kings result in chaos, violence, and poverty. "Every man for himself. That's what happens when a king won't rule." But a good king works to achieve the opposite.
"A good King brings order to the realm. God brings order out of chaos at the beginning of creation, and then he hands the project over to Adam to rule in the same way. Not as a tyrant or micromanager, but offering his strength to bring order to the realm... The King is on his throne and all is well with the world... A good King also fights for the security of his kingdom, battling assault from without and sedition from within. that's why he must be a Warrior first... A family with a good father feels protected. Spiritually, emotionally, financially, physically, he is the one to bring peace and covering to his family. All this in order to bring blessing to his people... A good King wants his people to share in the prosperity of the realm. Bad kings build their own offshore bank accounts."
Which King do you want to be, a good one who serves his people, and forever is spoken of with not only respect, but love? Or a bad one who lives selfishly and is despised by the people who suffer under his neglect? To be a good King, you must be a holy king. Are you willing to pay the price of holiness?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
This is absolutely crucial because of the role a King is to play. Power is not given to a King for his comfort and pleasure, but rather so he can bless and serve the people. The king exists for the people, not the people for the king. The King is in power to serve and protect the people of his kingdom. "That is what a good King does - he uses all he has to make his kingdom like the kingdom of heaven for the sake of the people who live under his rule... For the sake of his people. That is why a man is given a kingdom. We are given power and resources and influence for the benefit of others." Plan and simple, leadership is all about serving.
"Too many men, having reached this point in their journey - or rather, finding themselves Kings even though they have not taken the masculine journey - seize the opportunity to make life good... for themselves. The average man in his forties or fifties comes into a little power and influence, a little discretionary cash, and he spends it making himself comfortable... He works if he has to, but the purpose of his labors is only to build his savings so that he can lead a life of leisure... There is a sense of entitlement that seems to come with the forties and fifties. The man has worked hard to get here, and something in him says, Hey - I've paid my dues. Now it's my turn to have some fun.... This is not why a man is given power and property."
Look at the world, and this is all you see. I could so easily list example after example of this, but I won't, because I really don't need to. A heart unyielded to God is selfish, and sees power as the opportunity to advance itself. Everything is about happiness and comfort, the way it wants life to be. But that is the opposite of what the role of King should look like. Jesus said it best in Matthew 20.
"But Jesus called them to Himself and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many'" (verses 25-28).
The context, right before this the mother of James and John asks Jesus to command that her two sons sit at his right and left hand when the Kingdom comes in its fullness. The other disciples hear this and angry with the two, and so Jesus tells them the real reason for leadership, serving others. And He says that even He, God in the flesh, did not come to be served but to serve, and not only that, but to die for the sins of the world. How many leaders do you know that have done that?
"But that is the true test of a King. Simply put, the test is this: what is life like for the people under his authority? Really. It's that simple. What is life like for the people in his kingdom? Have a look at his wife - is she tired, stressed out, overlooked? What about his children - are they flourishing? How much energy does he spend simply getting his children to behave, verses understanding their hearts and looking for ways to bless them? Talk to the people who work for him - do they feel they are simply building his kingdom, or that he is serving them? Are they growing in their own talents and abilities, joyful because they are cared for, given a place in the kingdom? If he is a pastor, look at his congregation - are they enjoying the genuine freedom and life Christ promised? Or is the unspoken system of the church one of fear, guilt, and performance?
A king is put in power to serve his people, to bless them, and to make their lives better and safer. Is this happening? Which of these options looks more like the kingdom you're leading, or part of? I've spent time in both, more time in the later sadly, but my desire is to be a good King. I want my wife to know she is cherished, and I want to bless my children. If I get to lead a church again, I want them to enjoy the freedom that is in Christ and grow daily into Christlikeness. I want my staff to grow and love what they do, to be proud to build the Kingdom by my side.
"When you look at the lives of bad kings... Life is all about them. The kingdom revolves around their happiness. You know they didn't wake each morning to ask themselves, 'What good can I do for others today with the power and wealth I have?' But this is the question a good king asks. It requires a holiness most men simply don't desire."
If you seek to be a good king, you must desire, more than anything else, holiness. It is the only way to selflessly serve. Without it selfishness rules the heart, abuses power, and neglects the people. The kingdoms of bad kings result in chaos, violence, and poverty. "Every man for himself. That's what happens when a king won't rule." But a good king works to achieve the opposite.
"A good King brings order to the realm. God brings order out of chaos at the beginning of creation, and then he hands the project over to Adam to rule in the same way. Not as a tyrant or micromanager, but offering his strength to bring order to the realm... The King is on his throne and all is well with the world... A good King also fights for the security of his kingdom, battling assault from without and sedition from within. that's why he must be a Warrior first... A family with a good father feels protected. Spiritually, emotionally, financially, physically, he is the one to bring peace and covering to his family. All this in order to bring blessing to his people... A good King wants his people to share in the prosperity of the realm. Bad kings build their own offshore bank accounts."
Which King do you want to be, a good one who serves his people, and forever is spoken of with not only respect, but love? Or a bad one who lives selfishly and is despised by the people who suffer under his neglect? To be a good King, you must be a holy king. Are you willing to pay the price of holiness?
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Thursday, November 21, 2013
The Way of the Wild Heart, Chapter 12: King, part 2
"The great problem of the earth and the great aim of the masculine journey boil down to this: when can you trust a man with power?... the whole history of God and man recounted in the Bible is the story of God wanting to entrust men with his power, and men not being able to handle it."
Think about that for a minute. Really that is what it comes down to. Men are born to lead, at the very least their families, but quite often, businesses, churches and nations. So when can you trust a man with power? In America there are laws for when someone can take office in the federal government. Before someone is made CEO of a company there are things that they have to learn and experience. The same is true of pastoring a church, which is like being the CEO of a non-profit organization. But the question remains, when can men be trusted with power? Just because you reach a certain age doesn't mean you're ready to be an elected voice for the people. And just because you're worked your way up the ladder, paid your dues if you will, doesn't mean you should be put in charge.
Over and over in the Bible we see power abused, or the role of leadership ignored. Too many men haven't been able to handle the power they have been given. That has to change; we were born to be Kings. "My sincere hope is that as we embrace the masculine journey, submit to its lessons, learn again how to initiate men, we shall make good Kings available once more. But before a man is ready to handle power, his character must be forged. It might be said that all masculine initiation is designed to prepare a man to handle power."
How many men you know in leadership would you say have been initiated? My guess is most of them have learned to do one or two things well, what a self-made man really is as we saw in Wild at Heart, and have used those skills to get them where they are. I know I've worked under many like that. But for them power has become about comfort and ease (more on this later). Being a King involves more than just learning what to say, or not to say, and the skills needed to get to the top. It involves a transformation of heart and upright, incorruptible character.
"'His children are not his real, true sons ... until they think like him, feel with him, judge as he judges, are at home with him, and without fear before him because he and they mean the same thing, love the same things, seek the same ends. (Unspoken Sermons)' It is a beautiful work God is up to in a man, perhaps the most beautiful of all his works, and when this has taken deep root in a man's life... when this is true of a man more often than not, then is he ready to become a King. It is a matter of the heart, my brothers."
We've seen before how the heart is our source of strength and passion. We need both of these to rule well. But in order to be able to rule well our strength must be redeemed and our passion purified. We must come to realize that our strength is ours so that we can serve others, and our passion is there to drive us towards our role in Kingdom work. It is only when we become like Christ, and live as Christ, that we are ready to handle power. That is what God is working towards, Christlikeness in us.
Romans 8.28-30, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified."
Philippians 1.6, 9-11 "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus... And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."
God is working in us to mold us into the image of Christ, the King of kings. The more like Him we become, the more fit we are to rule. The more like Christ we are, the more we selflessly offer our strength to others, the more we passionately live to advance the Kingdom. "God rarely forces a man to do something against his will, because he would far and above prefer that he doesn't have to, that the man wills to do the will of God. 'Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve' (Josh. 24.15 NIV). What God is after is a man so yielded to him, so completely surrendered, that his heart is easily moved by the Spirit of God to the purposes of God. That kind of heart makes for a good king."
"Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God" (Romans 13.1). A King is only put in power by God, and therefore is subject to God. The power he is given is from God, and so how could a man expect to rule well if he is not yielded to God? How does a man make decisions in leadership, does he get an idea and run with it, or does he run it by God in prayer and seek His counsel? Read the Old Testament and look at what the good leaders did. A man cannot rule well, cannot rule to advance the Kingdom, unless he is seeking God's direction.
"Regardless of age, position, or natural abilities, a man is ready to become a King only when his heart is in the right place. Meaning, yielded to God."
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Think about that for a minute. Really that is what it comes down to. Men are born to lead, at the very least their families, but quite often, businesses, churches and nations. So when can you trust a man with power? In America there are laws for when someone can take office in the federal government. Before someone is made CEO of a company there are things that they have to learn and experience. The same is true of pastoring a church, which is like being the CEO of a non-profit organization. But the question remains, when can men be trusted with power? Just because you reach a certain age doesn't mean you're ready to be an elected voice for the people. And just because you're worked your way up the ladder, paid your dues if you will, doesn't mean you should be put in charge.
Over and over in the Bible we see power abused, or the role of leadership ignored. Too many men haven't been able to handle the power they have been given. That has to change; we were born to be Kings. "My sincere hope is that as we embrace the masculine journey, submit to its lessons, learn again how to initiate men, we shall make good Kings available once more. But before a man is ready to handle power, his character must be forged. It might be said that all masculine initiation is designed to prepare a man to handle power."
How many men you know in leadership would you say have been initiated? My guess is most of them have learned to do one or two things well, what a self-made man really is as we saw in Wild at Heart, and have used those skills to get them where they are. I know I've worked under many like that. But for them power has become about comfort and ease (more on this later). Being a King involves more than just learning what to say, or not to say, and the skills needed to get to the top. It involves a transformation of heart and upright, incorruptible character.
"'His children are not his real, true sons ... until they think like him, feel with him, judge as he judges, are at home with him, and without fear before him because he and they mean the same thing, love the same things, seek the same ends. (Unspoken Sermons)' It is a beautiful work God is up to in a man, perhaps the most beautiful of all his works, and when this has taken deep root in a man's life... when this is true of a man more often than not, then is he ready to become a King. It is a matter of the heart, my brothers."
We've seen before how the heart is our source of strength and passion. We need both of these to rule well. But in order to be able to rule well our strength must be redeemed and our passion purified. We must come to realize that our strength is ours so that we can serve others, and our passion is there to drive us towards our role in Kingdom work. It is only when we become like Christ, and live as Christ, that we are ready to handle power. That is what God is working towards, Christlikeness in us.
Romans 8.28-30, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified."
Philippians 1.6, 9-11 "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus... And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."
God is working in us to mold us into the image of Christ, the King of kings. The more like Him we become, the more fit we are to rule. The more like Christ we are, the more we selflessly offer our strength to others, the more we passionately live to advance the Kingdom. "God rarely forces a man to do something against his will, because he would far and above prefer that he doesn't have to, that the man wills to do the will of God. 'Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve' (Josh. 24.15 NIV). What God is after is a man so yielded to him, so completely surrendered, that his heart is easily moved by the Spirit of God to the purposes of God. That kind of heart makes for a good king."
"Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God" (Romans 13.1). A King is only put in power by God, and therefore is subject to God. The power he is given is from God, and so how could a man expect to rule well if he is not yielded to God? How does a man make decisions in leadership, does he get an idea and run with it, or does he run it by God in prayer and seek His counsel? Read the Old Testament and look at what the good leaders did. A man cannot rule well, cannot rule to advance the Kingdom, unless he is seeking God's direction.
"Regardless of age, position, or natural abilities, a man is ready to become a King only when his heart is in the right place. Meaning, yielded to God."
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)