GIVE US A KING TO GOVERN US
by Bob Wickizer
Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:4-20, 1 Samuel 11:14-15, Psalms 138:1-8, 2 Corinthians 4:13-18, 2 Corinthians 5:1, Mark 3:20-35
Title: Give Us a King to Govern Us
Author: Bob Wickizer
Text: 1 Samuel 8:4-20, 1 Samuel 11:14-15, Psalm 138, 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1, Mark 3:20-35
What do we need to do to follow Jesus? How can we order our lives so that God is king and sovereign over all of us? And what happens when some of us do and some of us don't?
I read the lessons for today early Wednesday morning as is my habit. I like to have the readings in my head for a while before writing a sermon. I had just finished reading an economics article about why many nations around the world are tilting towards authoritarian leaders, "kings" in bible language. Why do some people idolize the ultra-wealthy?
Here's a partial list of what authoritarian rulers around the world have in common with many of the ultra-rich in America. Interestingly, none of it is about money. Lack of empathy, thuggishness, shamelessness, insolence, audacity, irreverence, violation of social norms without shame, vindictiveness, cruelty, bullying others, treating employees (or a nation's people) like dung, ridicule of anyone who gets in their way, disregard for democracy or the law, willful lying, deceitfulness, distortion. The list goes on. Would you choose a person with these characteristics to be a close friend?
One corporate leader bullied his board into granting him the largest CEO pay ever awarded - $50B. The SEC ruled that the process to grant that pay was not legal, and they were ignored. The same week, 14,000 of this CEO's employees in California learned they had been fired when they showed up for work and their parking lot keys no longer worked. Nice touch, huh? This same leader spreads lies, disinformation, and conspiracy theories throughout the world all with one goal - to give him ultimate power, the ability to do anything he wants with no legal repercussions.
The Israelites in Samuel's era were weary of following God's law and having judges settle disputes among them. "Give us a king to rule over us" ...
Author: Bob Wickizer
Text: 1 Samuel 8:4-20, 1 Samuel 11:14-15, Psalm 138, 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1, Mark 3:20-35
What do we need to do to follow Jesus? How can we order our lives so that God is king and sovereign over all of us? And what happens when some of us do and some of us don't?
I read the lessons for today early Wednesday morning as is my habit. I like to have the readings in my head for a while before writing a sermon. I had just finished reading an economics article about why many nations around the world are tilting towards authoritarian leaders, "kings" in bible language. Why do some people idolize the ultra-wealthy?
Here's a partial list of what authoritarian rulers around the world have in common with many of the ultra-rich in America. Interestingly, none of it is about money. Lack of empathy, thuggishness, shamelessness, insolence, audacity, irreverence, violation of social norms without shame, vindictiveness, cruelty, bullying others, treating employees (or a nation's people) like dung, ridicule of anyone who gets in their way, disregard for democracy or the law, willful lying, deceitfulness, distortion. The list goes on. Would you choose a person with these characteristics to be a close friend?
One corporate leader bullied his board into granting him the largest CEO pay ever awarded - $50B. The SEC ruled that the process to grant that pay was not legal, and they were ignored. The same week, 14,000 of this CEO's employees in California learned they had been fired when they showed up for work and their parking lot keys no longer worked. Nice touch, huh? This same leader spreads lies, disinformation, and conspiracy theories throughout the world all with one goal - to give him ultimate power, the ability to do anything he wants with no legal repercussions.
The Israelites in Samuel's era were weary of following God's law and having judges settle disputes among them. "Give us a king to rule over us" ...
There are 5574 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
