Ruling Well

"Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the word and doctrine."

1 Timothy 5:17

Passages such as this one are not to be used by those in church leadership for self-serving purposes, but hold forth the practical value of godly leadership the Body of Christ benefits from.  Paul went on to say this "double honour" can involve financial support.  Though he worked as a tent maker to support himself during his missionary journeys so the Gospel would be without charge, it was fitting for him to be supported with practical provision in exchange for spiritual truth which is beyond price.

In our western mindset, we need context about what it means to "rule well."  In the modern-day west, people place great value on personal freedoms as individuals and have no desire to be "ruled" by anyone.  Perhaps verses like this provoke wariness in people whom have experienced or seen abuses justified by those who claimed to wield spiritual authority from God.  It would be wrong to assert the elders ruled well by heavy-handed policies and authoritarian demands, living like kings who imposed their will on others.  Some wonder if they have the right to even "speak against the LORD's anointed," that it could be sinful to oppose or even question those in authority.  It is not a systemic problem but always a personal one, for God has showed us by example what ruling well looks like in the person of Jesus Christ.  Ruling is not about being "in charge" but rather choosing to humble self under God's charge.

The one who rules well must submit to be ruled by God and to walk in His ways.  When God acquiesced at the demand of His people Israel to have a king rule over them, it was required by God in Deuteronomy 17:18-20:  "Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. ¹⁹ And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, ²⁰ that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel."  Kings were not to lord over the people of God but humbly submit to His rule, writing a personal copy of the Law to increase his knowledge of God and His ordinances.  It was not enough for a king to know the Law but needed to keep it himself and view his "subjects" as brethren, all under the authority and grace of God.

The disciples of Jesus were annoyed when James and John sought a privileged position of authority by Jesus' side, and by extension to be promoted over the other disciples.  Matthew 20:25-28 reads, "But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. ²⁶ Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. ²⁷ And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave--²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."  The Gentiles wielded their authority over others to benefit themselves, but the responsibility of those who rule in the church is to be the servant of all, to take the lowest place, to make more sacrifices than others for the glory of God and His kingdom.  Ruling does not mean controlling others or demanding respect, but submission before God in serving one another.  Those who are under God's authority in leadership do not pine for the adoration and accolades of men, for their aim is to direct all attention to Jesus Christ.

On the night Jesus was betrayed He girded Himself with a towel and washed the feet of the disciples.  In doing so He provided an example they and we are to follow:  the Master and Messiah crouched on His knees to wash the feet of Judas who would betray Him and of Peter who would deny Him.  Jesus knew all the feet He  washed would run away and forsake Him in His hour of need, but that did not keep Him from what the Father commanded Him.  The conduct of Jesus honoured His Father even when He would be dishonoured, and such is the lot of all those who rule well.  It is continuing to seek God and trust Him faithfully in all seasons, and it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit Who guides us into all truth we can endure.  Ruling well is never an easy gig because it is frankly impossible for man, but what is impossible for men is possible with God.  All honour for ruling well goes to God, and praise Him for those He guides and sustains to provide faithful examples among His people.

The World Behind

Today I was considering the parable Jesus told of the son who returned to his father, the greedy son who demanded his inheritance only to waste it on prodigal living.  Once the man had money in hand, he went far from his father to a distant land and wasted all by his "riotous" or dissolute lifestyle in pursuit of all pleasures of the flesh.  Luke 15:14 says, "But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want."

The party was over and all his money was spent, but this was not enough to cause him to return to his father who loved and provided everything for him.  He left off the partying and pursuit of pleasure for his survival, but perhaps he held out hope he could earn money and continue in a life of sin.  The man chose to join himself to a citizen of that country hoping to enrich himself.  He was not working to earn money for a return trip home, for as the parable related abject poverty and uncleanness did not prevent him from finding his way home to his father if he wanted.

Luke 15:17-19 says, "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, ¹⁹ and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."  It took being destitute for the man to start working, and it was the love of his father which brought him to his senses of how awful life had become away from him.  The fog of folly finally cleared, and the man was determined to go home to his father--not to use him, but to serve him.  All desire to return to the previous life of sin was gone.  He went to his father having left his drunkenness, philandering and scheming behind with a humble heart of repentance and sought to serve.

The father saw his son returning a long way off, had compassion on him and ran to embrace him.  God is also gracious to receive His lost and backslidden children who can only truly return when they have left the old life behind.  Had the man hung onto a hope to return to the old life, he would not have returned to serve but to use:  to use his old man for whatever he could get from him.  It is a scene of great rejoicing and celebration when the lost son returned, for a work was done in his heart through experience which moved him to confess his sin, repent and serve faithfully, expecting nothing in return.  He was then able to receive the grace and love of his father, and a life better than he ever imagined unfolded when he was home at his father's side.

"The cross before me, the world behind me," the song says.  If we will return to God our Father in faith, we must leave the old ways and selfish schemes behind.  We are not worthy to serve the LORD, yet He receives us as sons by grace through faith.  No man can do this for another, and God is faithful to even use our wanderings to prove His worthiness to be sought and served.

God's Fellow Workers

"Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labour. ⁹ For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building."

1 Corinthians 3:8-9

In a Bible study last night we briefly discussed the implications of being God's fellow workers, His field and building.  Those who plant and water are one, and it is the LORD who receives the increase.  The efforts we expend for the glory of our Saviour are fruitful only by His grace, and Jesus Christ deserves the credit even as the vine supplies nutrients and strength to the branches.

If a farmer is motivated to clear, plow, sow, water and reap the field he owns for a bountiful crop, God is far more active in working to see the peaceable fruit of righteousness produced in us by His grace.  A farmer works the field with a long-term plan in mind:  rotating crops, building and mending fences, ensuring there is a good water supply and is attentive day and night to ensure beasts are not destroying the future crop.  Delicate plants must be covered to protect them from frost; fruit trees and vines require netting to prevent birds from doing damage.  A farmer and his land form a partnership where both benefit, and the burden falls upon the farmer to cultivate with the future in mind.

How true this is concerning the relationship God has made with us through faith in Jesus Christ!  The significant difference between the believer's relationship with God is we are supernaturally empowered to produce spiritual fruit that endures.  Naturally because of sin we could only bear thorns and noxious weeds, our hearts filled with stones, dark woods that block sunlight, land filled with marshes and barren wastes.  Having been born again we now can produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit and the good seed of God's word begins to spring forth in a humble heart.  The living water of the Holy Spirit begins to flow through a soul yielded to Him, and stagnant ponds begin to be purified.

We are not a passive plot of land in this picture, for consider God's word through the prophet to His people in Hosea 10:12-13:  "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you. ¹³ You have plowed wickedness; you have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, because you trusted in your own way, in the multitude of your mighty men."  Land cannot sow or reap itself, and the work God calls us to do is to yield to Him by faith and obedience.  A farmer sows with the expectation of reaping in season, and the work God does in our lives is with our future on earth and in heaven for eternity.  Jesus said in John 9:4, "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work."  During our earthly pilgrimage it is a season of God working in and through His people, and Jesus is faithful to labour for the glory of God and our good.

Paul compares Christians to being "God's building," and we are a building project God is keen to tackle--despite our reluctance.  Now that He has taken possession of us through the power of the Gospel, there are massive renovation plans God has to enact:  a new foundation has been laid and a new structure with quality materials has been erected.  This passage follows on from what Paul described previously in 1 Corinthians 3:11-15:  "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. ¹⁴ If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."  God has the set of drawings outlined in His word patterned after Jesus Christ, and praise the LORD the construction process is managed by God who is faithful to complete the work He has begun by grace.

How rewarding it is when we submit and cooperate with the work God does within us!  1 John 3:2-3 reveals, "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. ³ And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."  Our efforts could never accomplish this work, but with God who works in us we are divinely enabled and empowered to work with Him to this glorious end.

The Good Word of the LORD

After King Hezekiah miraculously recovered from a grave illness, he entertained messengers from the distant land of Babylon by showing them all the treasures of his house.  2 Kings 20:16-19 says, "Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the LORD: ¹⁷ 'Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,' says the LORD. ¹⁸ 'And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.' " ¹⁹ So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good!" For he said, "Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?"

I have always thought the response of King Hezekiah was very strange, seeing the future events which Isaiah prophesied according to the word of the LORD did not seem good:  the riches of the kingdom plundered, nothing would be left, Hezekiah's sons would go into captivity and be made eunuchs.  Hezekiah's response on the surface seems flippant and careless, even selfish.  But let us not ascribe folly where God has not, for God alone knows the hearts of men.  Though Hezekiah did not live up to the blessing of an extended life God granted him at his request, Hezekiah spoke the truth.  Believers who trust God who is good, gracious, merciful and compassionate can rest in His sovereignty now and forever regardless what He allows.

When Hezekiah was previously told by the word of the LORD he would die of his illness, he turned to the LORD in prayer and pleaded for his life.  Hearing about what would befall his nation and children was certainly sobering, yet he knew the God who answered His prayer would also be faithful to hear and answer the prayers of all who feared and sought Him in the future.  The good word of God would stand, and we who fear God can rest in His unerring wisdom and grace.  It has been revealed to believers how God will one day destroy the heavens and earth with fire (2 Peter 3), yet this should not provoke us to mourn without hope or deny the goodness of God today or tomorrow.  We ought to be like Hezekiah who praised God for His mercy to us and that He has made a way of salvation for all.  The word of the LORD is good and true because it is of God, and because we can know God by faith in Jesus to a greater degree than Hezekiah we can count on God's perfect peace all our days.

Repentance for sin is an important part of the Gospel, and all who see their sin in light of the word of God know judgment for sin is coming.  A judge should not apologise to apply a just sentence that fits the crime.  When God said He was going to destroy Sodom for the cry against it was great because of iniquity, Abraham did not assert it was unjust the wicked should be punished.  People take issue with judgment from God because they do not agree with His assessment of what constitutes sin and how justice is correctly administered by Him because they do not know Him.  When confronted with the judgment of his wicked sons and house Eli responded, "It is the LORD.  Let Him do what seems good to Him." (1 Sam. 3:18)  We would not say, "No so, LORD!" should He offer us grace and mercy:  how can we say, "Not so, LORD!" when He reveals He will surely administer justice upon all?  Our very salvation hinges on the fact God is gracious and just, for the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary who bore the sins of the world satisfied the just requirements of God once for all who believe.

May the LORD by His grace bring us to a place of joyful submission to all He has said, that we can say as Hezekiah, "The word of the LORD is good!" knowing there will be peace and truth in our days because we are in Christ and He is in us.  The Word who became flesh and dwelt among us is good, and He is with us now and forever in glory.