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The
highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity,
choosing right over wrong, ethics over convenience, and truth over
popularity.
Travel the path of integrity without looking back, for THERE IS
NEVER A WRONG TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
-
Bishop Soc Villegas
25 July 2007
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ON SERVANT LEADERSHIP
(Part 14)
BEING ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD
November 11,
2009
Today’s reading
from the book of Wisdom (6:2-11) has important instruction for servant
leaders.
Servant leaders stand in God’s place, doing His work and caring for
His people. Now that is an awesome privilege and responsibility. God
entrusts His plan for the life of the world to His people, especially
His servant leaders. God gives them His anointing, and they do their
work under the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. As such, “for those in
power a rigorous scrutiny impends” (v.8).
God holds us accountable! God will probe our works. God will test the
quality of our service. “Hearken, you who are in power over the
multitude and lord it over throngs of peoples! Because authority was
given you by the Lord and sovereignty by the Most High, who shall probe
your works and scrutinize your counsels!” (v.2-3).
What will be the standard of God’s judgment?
The standard is God Himself. Servant leaders must judge “rightly, and
.... keep the law, (and) walk according to the will of God” (v.4). We
are to live righteous lives, avoid sin and wrongdoing, and make
decisions according to His ways. This is because we represent God, and
we are tasked to care for His people. Thus we reflect the image of God.
Thus we obey God’s commands and do things His way, not our way.
If not, our punishment will be severe. “Terribly and swiftly shall he
come against you” (v.5a). But why? We are just trying to serve Him. It
is voluntary and we may not be getting paid for it. Punishment will be
severe “because judgment is stern for the exalted” (v.5b), and
“the mighty shall be mightily put to the test” (v.6b). God gives us
power and authority, entrusting His people to us, and we must care for
them the way God wants us to.
It seems such a heavy burden. Why even take the chance of being punished
by God by becoming a servant leader? Well, it is a great privilege. And
if we truly love God, and if we know that He acts through leaders that
He chooses, then we must respond if called.
For those called, God provides the grace to be able to serve well.
First, God gives us His commands, which lead us to righteousness and
holiness, which in turn transform us into the image and likeness of God.
God assures us that “those who keep the holy precepts hallowed shall
be found holy” (v.10a). God desires that we be holy as He is holy. If
we desire this as well, and strive to live according to His ways, then
we will be holy. “To you, therefore, O princes, are my words addressed
that you may learn wisdom and that you may not sin.” (v.9).
Second, as we strive to obey God’s laws, and thus grow in godly
wisdom, then we will know how to respond to God’s call, and act
according to His will in caring for His people. God again assures us:
“those learned in them will have ready a response” (v.10b). God will
not withhold His wisdom, grace and anointing. He just wants to have
obedient leaders, whom He is committed to form and transform.
To be a servant leader is a great and wonderful calling. It is both a
great privilege and responsibility. Being tasked to do the very work of
God, we will be held accountable. In this we must not be afraid, but
trust in the God who calls us.
God provides for all we need in order to do His work and be effective
servant leaders. God guides us and instructs us, and God does want us to
succeed. He has given us His guide book, the Bible. He has given us the
Church and her magisterium. He has given us our community, with elders
and brethren.
Now it is up to us. “Desire therefore my words; long for them and you
shall be instructed.” (v.11).
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