Tempting

[From Monday, June 1, 2009]

"Then the Israelite said to Gideon, 'Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also...' Gideon said to them, 'I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the LORD will rule over you.'"

(Judges 8"22-23)

In just 3 chapters, Gideon went from an insecure, fearful, "regular Joe" to a powerful and successful warrior/leader. The change is all because of God... and Gideon knows it! So when the Israelite leaders came and asked (no, begged!) Gideon to be their ruler, he declined. They were ready to make his family a dynasty of rulers. But Gideon kept their focus where he thought it needed to be: "the LORD will rule over you."

That must have been a little more challenging to decline than Gideon let on (Maybe he had a while before he gave them his answer?!). The offer of power and authority is a strong temptress. Maybe Gideon still had traces of his former insecurity (thus, the decline)? Then again, maybe he had divine wisdom. Maybe he know how easy it is to lose focus on God?

It's even hard for those of us already in positions of church leadership to maintain that perspective. It's ultimately not about us. It's about God. And no leader worth his/her salt can lead with integrity without that understanding. At least not for very long.

PRAYER: Thank you God, for the wisdom of Gideon. For the call to keep YOU as our leader, no matter what our positions of authority or leadership are within the church, community & world. Help me to maintain that perspective, Lord. Help me to always remember that You are the One who leads. I'm just called to help others follow. AMEN.