RULERS OF THE HEART

1 Samuel 5:1-7:17; John 6:1-21; Psalm 106:13-31; Proverbs 14:32-33

“But the next morning the same thing happened—Dagon had fallen face down before the Ark of the Lord again. This time his head and hands had broken off and were lying in the doorway. Only the trunk of his body was left intact.”

“When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.”

“The people refused to enter the pleasant land, for they wouldn’t believe his promise to care for them. Instead, they grumbled in their tents and refused to obey the Lord.”

“Wisdom is enshrined in an understanding heart; wisdom is not found among fools.”

Jesus was a pretty incredible guy. All that power, yet he repeatedly rejected any effort to make Him a worldly leader. Whether the “invitation” to secular rule came from Satan himself or a group of well-intentioned citizens, Jesus refused. He never confused lesser opportunities with what God had in mind. Christ understood no one can be lord for another without first touching their heart.

My son had a basketball coach in high school who understood the best, godly way to “rule” his charges. While insisting on 100% effort and excellent execution on the court, “Coach Ham” first required integrity and discipline off the court. Grades were a big deal. So was morality. But it was the self-respect Coach taught the boys which really carried them through the rough patches of adolescent life on and off the court. Coach was a genius when it came to seeing and maximizing each boy’s potential contribution to the team. My son, for example, was never the most athletically gifted, but he had certain leadership abilities Coach drew out of him. He became a positive team force and a locker room leader. Coach taught him how valuable he was as an individual and instilled in him much of the self esteem and character he has today. Yet Coach had and still has no greater aspirations than training young men. He has coached at the same level for the same school for over a decade. His program turns out adults ready to be examples for a hurting world. For Coach Ham, that’s enough.

When one has access to the hearts of men and women, worldly power can never measure up. Jesus and Coach Ham both understand the only power that lasts is love. But love as a power usually escapes notice and is not well cultivated. Most human leaders aspire to and settle for mere adulation and/or recognition because, intuitively or otherwise, they understand their leadership does not translate at the level of the heart. In fact, most people are quick to demand our leaders save us without giving them our hearts! Perhaps that explains why the main characteristic of so many worldly leaders today is either irrational hope, great ambition or embarrassing foolishness. We don’t want to be ruled from the heart. We want external conquerors and miracle workers; in short, those who will save but not change us. It is no wonder we have such a difficult time finding good, “acceptable” leaders, and do not easily submit to Christ’s Lordship.

False idols arise in a variety of circumstances. Whether on television, through popular election or via backroom maneuvers, by and large, humanity is shortchanging itself and accepting less than God’s best as its leaders. We get what we deserve when we get what we demand. Christ offers a better way. To claim it, all we have to do is offer Him our hearts.