#158 Shepherd (15 sep 07)

'Behold, God is mine helper…'
Psalm 54:4

Back in 1969, when the closest thing to a computer was the Chinese abacus, simple things do bring great pleasure to children then. Marbles, kite flying, or a rubber band knobbled skipping ropes were suffice for endless hours of fun. So, when my dad gave me a nice quarter wall-sized multi-hued poster, with the national flags of different countries juxtaposed next to the then national leaders(including our present Minister Mentor) of the respective countries, it was close to heaven sent.

It was a good start for a young mind, but my political aspirations never went past that. And indeed, we are blessed to have great leaders to guide our little sampan of a nation, amidst the great ocean liners in these often treacherous seas.

Strong leaders begets strong nations? Possible, but inept, insipid or insidious leadership ruins the flock?

I did spent most of my academic years studying about human fortitude and ineptitude(aka history), managing and being managed(aka management studies/behavioral science) and what motivates most of us(aka economics and finance). I did pick up a couple of pointers like the motherhood statement above on leaders, but then, if men are finite in abilities, with unlimited wants and complex emotions, can one size fit all?

'Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength'
Isaiah 40:31

Winston Churchill, was as close to an iconic leader as man's fertile imagination could package. He does look indomitable with his bull-dog sturdiness and resolute will, but even at the lowest ebb in British history, when the fast approaching, seemingly unstoppable Nazi German armed might, came ominously close to over-running the last bastion of free Europe, ie the British Isles, did Churchill turned to God.??
President George Bush revealed in a recent interview about how he coped with the stresses of high office, his answer was that he spent time with God.
Ex-president Bill Clinton never missed a beat in his regular court appearances when he was being impeached, nor did he ever fail to be without his Bible, at least in front of the television cameras.

Only the Lord knows what is in a person's heart.

'Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.
With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men'
Ephesians 6:6-7

Man tend to be visual creatures. We depend upon our sensory crutches to parlay decisions, be it past experiential benchmarks, intuition or rational analysis. Tribes are formed when people gather under the umbrella of common needs, with the individual or individuals who best fit that perception of being able to deliver upon these needs, being the leader.
Renewal in the animal kingdom runs on a cycle of strength and guile, as new upstarts will challenge the established leader of the pack, when the former sense a sapping of strength and will in the latter.
God made us different, as men are apt to think. But reality is, are many any different from the predatorial denizens of the jungle, as they strive and strife for pole position?

'…be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might'
Ephesians 6:10

Political leaders today hardly go on their knees. The late President of Egypt, Anwar Sadat, was prominent in two ways. One, he was the man who signed that historic peace treaty with long time arch enemies, Israel and paid the price for that brave decision with his life. Two, he was known to be a very pious man, as evidenced by the depression upon his forehead, from long periods of posturing in prayers, with his head pressed against the prayer mat placed on the ground, in obeisance.

As titular Head of the Church of England, kings of past used to kneel in prayers, at ceremonial events, in acknowledgement of the Sovereignty of God. Not too sure if Queen Elizabeth does that as much as before. Could arthritis be the cause?

Jesus Christ led by example what it means to be a leader in the kingdom of God. Jesus was borned in a lowly manger(and not in a gilt edged creche). He was a carpenter, and not some nobleman or great warrior. Humility is what many like to see in their leaders, but most tend to have great expectations about the outward attributes of a leader. The Jews of old were disappointed for they had expected their Saviour to be a man of greatness, in terms of power, statuture and status, and not a lowly carpenter. They were blinded by their sinful and finite understanding and failed to see the will of God.

Men today are no different. We look for the usual attributes of a great leader. Hence the ever popularity of Superman, Wonder Woman, Fantastic Four in the West. And for many movies stars from Philippines and Bollywood, the line between movie persona and political office is often blurred.

'…that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.
….For which I am an ambassador in bonds; that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak'
Ephesians 6:19-20

Men's gullibility is not just limited to being enamored by good looks, perceived strength and status, but also being susceptible to hearing 'sweet nothings'
Not many want to be told about the possibility of their going to hell, for not giving up their sinful heaven on earth. Men want to hear the good news, not of the gospel, but of what grips their hearts, usually wealth, health and stealth.

'For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos, are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase…'
1 Corinthians 3:3-10

Truly God will use well all of us who seek and obey Him. But, let not man be prideful like Satan and start to think too highly of themselves. For all things are from, to and through God, and not men.

So, what will make us all good servant leaders in the kingdom of God?

'And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them'
Luke 2:20

If you are blessed to have the blindness in your hearts lifted. If you are blessed to know God. Then, like the three wise men of old, who were led by the Lord to Jesus Christ, they glorified God in words, in works, always looking unto Him, and Him only.

Prince or pauper, Joseph of Egypt or John the Baptist, a solid piece of rock or a mere pebble, the meek will inherit the Earth, for the Lord will use a humble and contrite heart

'But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience n the sight of God'
2 Corinthians 4:2

'For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; nand ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake'
2 Corinthians 4:5
God Blesses

Eng Hieang