Kindness for Weakness
Leadership and power
How would you feel if you had God’s direct telephone number and could call Him whenever you wanted to? What if your Dad was the most powerful being in existence and was just waiting for you to call to ask Him for anything? What if He just wanted your obedience and then He would arrange everything for you in your favor?
That’s exactly what the Israelites had, minus the phone to call part.
In 1 Samuel 8, the elders of Israel insisted on having a king to rule over them, just like the other nations. Even though they already had The Most High God, The God who brought them out of Egypt, ready to give them what they asked for, they still were set on having an earthly king to rule over them.
In verse 7, God spoke to Samuel, telling him to give the Israelites what they wanted since they had rejected the Most High God as their king. God also directed Samuel to tell the Israelites exactly what to expect from the king who would reign over them. This king that they were begging for would rule with subjugation, constant war, and exploitation. Now, if you ask me, after hearing how bad of a king would be coming my way, I definitely would have said, “Yeah, thanks, but no thanks!” But would you believe that the Israelites still wanted their king?! I guess they had to keep up with the Joneses, right? One of the wonderful things about God is that He is a Gentleman and He doesn’t force Himself on anyone. And God directed Samuel to give the Israelites their earthly king.
The Kingdom of God vs. The World.
Kind, benevolent leaders are often mocked or underappreciated and are not often thought of in high regard. However, they are very much a sign of favor from God through the rest and harmony they promote. Sadly, the World sees their kindness, and really kindness in general, as weakness. Don’t forget, we live in the enemy’s world, and the enemy tries to pervert the things of God.
Many people walk through life feeling disempowered in some capacity — victims of circumstance, unfairness, injustice, or disappointment. As a result, those who inflict the harm are viewed as strong and self-assured individuals, creating a toxic symbiotic relationship between those who like to have someone to blame and those who want to have someone to abuse.
The thing is, we’ve all been the Israelites at some point in this context.
When there is compliance with the demands of the person with the least regard for other students in school, we are the Israelites.
When the laughter and smiles of a joyful person are met with frowns, we are the Israelites.
When the vice-filled film sales outperform the family-friendly ones, we are the Israelites.
When everyone adjusts to and tolerates the relative who consistently insists on making family gatherings unpleasant over the years, we are the Israelites.
N.J.’s personal anecdote:
Several years ago, I overheard a woman scoff at a television monitor, and I turned to her curiously. On the television was a daytime talk show with a panel of young women. I was further confused. As the women on the show laughed and shared cute stories, the woman watching scrunched up her face and said they were all corny and fake. In that moment, I recalled a few things that had happened to the woman recently and realized she was unhappy and resented those who were happy. Instead of allowing herself to experience a few laughs with the women on the show, she was interested in content that would likely amplify her unhappiness. Misery loves company, right?
God is a benevolent leader, and we can, and should, appreciate those who are too.
So, if you have a teacher, a community leader, a manager, or a person in your life who displays kindness in their ways of leadership, consider taking a moment to show them your appreciation. Doing so could strengthen their methods and possibly rub off on others who may one day be leaders themselves. Directing more attention to those who are the alternative, the ones who are not leading with kindness, could contribute to a less-than-pleasant life and really just feeds more into the enemy’s world.
This world can be difficult enough as is, so as we are all members of the Body of Christ, let’s choose the love and favor of The Most High God and bring the fruit of kindness back into the culture of this world. After all, we are here to establish God’s Kingdom here on Earth.
Dear God,
Thank You for increasing my understanding and discernment today. Lead me in Your will and in Your way. Reveal to me the ways and the moments I have elevated that are outside of You. Increase my awareness of kindness and deliver me from a false understanding of power and leadership. Please help me to keep You, the Sovereign King and Ruler, in every area of my life. Thank You for Your grace and mercy.
In Your Holy Name, Amen.