The Concept of Leadership
TimeWatch Editorial
April 28, 2016
Samuel chapter 8 delivers a most enlightening bit of humanistic reasoning that sheds some light on attitudes quite evident in today’s world. Samuel, had done the job that he had been called to do. He had fulfilled his task as judge in Israel. Now he was old and his sons judged in his place, but were by no means commited to the leadership of God in their doings. They took bribes and were corrupted by greed. The elders, in their frustration, recognizing that these sons did not act as their father had done now went to Samuel requesting a change. What is amazing however is that they did not request a reversal to the trustworthy rulership and leadership of the God of Heaven; they had been observing the social progress of the surrounding nations. They had seen the secular attractions that seemed to them so delightful. They had seen the pomp and circumstance that had accompanied the kings of the other nations. Now they were very specific in their request; “now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
The concept of effective leadership has always been governed by the belief that strong men make great leaders. Great leaders have always been seen as those who demonstrate their warrior mentality, who demonstrate their alpha personalities and rise above the rest of society. These are usually the ones who receive the accolades, who thousands follow and who light up the emotions of those whose dreams are dormant. Like the players on a field, these followers live vicariously through the apparent skill of these loud voices. Unable themselves to demonstrate an equal ability on the field as their “gods” they nevertheless purchase, quite often at high prices, the regalia worn by their favorite team. They will spend any amount of money, just to be present at a game, stand in line for hours to buy a ticket with money that they really cannot afford, simply because it seems worth it all just to experience the emotion. They live or die with the success or failure of their “gods.”
As strange as this experience may appear, it is far more forgivable than the allegiance given to the “kings” we desire to elect. At least the men on the field are truly able to perform. They demonstrate, game after game the skill and the talent that seems to flow from within them. These athletes are devoted to their craft, spending hours of preparation and practice. They give their all, drenched in perspiration; they deliver the last ounce of strength in every play. The “kings” however are quite often like Paul the Apostle describes them “sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal” because there is no charity in them. Their words are a seduction that once they sink into the conscience of the listeners; enslave them with a belief that they will indeed represent their interests.
But the most disturbing element of this seduction is that, unlike the ballplayer, there truly is no skill to be displayed. The rhetoric itself is the game, the skill. Yet so many dress themselves in the regalia of those who desire to be “king” spending their money, time and energy to elect them, only to experience the tragic depression of another failed season. But never fail, we’ll be back next year!! We’ll throw the failed team out and bring in a brand new failed team to take their place.
It never seems to dawn on them that the problem is the measure of what true leadership is; it never seems to dawn on them that the problem is a lack of understanding the world in terms of where we have come from and where we are headed. It is easy to play upon the fears and aspirations of the masses; it is another thing entirely to show them the path to victory. Saul, the first king of Israel, looked the part. He was head and shoulders taller than anyone else in Israel. He was handsome and a great communicator. But his vision of the world was ultimately flawed. He truly believed that he was the answer, the nation also believed; ultimately it was proven that, like so many that would follow him, he was part of the problem. Perhaps this should teach us something.
Today we might still hear the voice of God as he encouraged Samuel after the people asked for a king:
1 Samuel 8:7 - And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
Cameron A. Bowen
