Recently we celebrated president’s day? Both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays fall in February. George Washington served as Commander in chief of the rebel forces that finally defeated the major force of the day. He then with some reluctance agreed to be our first President. Abraham Lincoln served this country at the perilous time of great and possible final division. President Lincoln was instrumental in reuniting this country, bringing freedom to the slaves, ending slavery, and starting the rebuilding process. It is right that we honor these men of honor. The Bible tells us to honor our fathers and mothers. There is a promise that comes with this. That promise for obedience in honor is a long fruitful life. Honor is very important.
One of our themes at Harbor Shalom can be posed as a question. What does it mean to be life-giving? Let me propose that that which is life-giving builds up. It doesn’t tear down. What is life-giving nourishes. It doesn’t starve and diminish. What is life-giving feeds deeply; feeding body, soul, and spirit (for we are three in one). Both of those men, though not perfect, were men of integrity. They were men who sought advice, but also men who sought the Lord God. They were men who served, and in the case of Lincoln even to death. We need to honor those who have gone before us. We need to sometimes be inconvenienced from our daily life to honor men and women who have been life-giving.
What do you think of when you think about leadership? Do you think of control? Or management? Or power? Did you ever think of leadership as serving? The ideas of serving and being life-giving are at the center of who God is and what we see written in the Bible. Jesus, at the last supper, put a towel around His waist, took water, and went around washing the disciples’ feet. That was a job for servants/slaves. When Peter protested Jesus said, “Unless you let me do this, you have no place with Me.” Peter responded, “Then wash all of me.” Jesus’ reply was huge. He told Peter and all of them that if the feet are clean, all is clean. He also told them, “You call Me Lord and Master and I am, but I came to serve.” It was a poignant example of the servant-leader. And we who are His disciples should do as He did. We need to help people on their path (feet) to be cleaned up. Jesus also told the parable of the good Samaritan. The religious leader and another important leader passed right by the man who had been beaten and left for dead. It was the Samaritan-the Jews hated them and the Samaritans hated the Jews-who stopped and helped. That help included dressing wounds, bringing the man to a place of safety, and even footing the bill. That was life giving!
Hopefully we will each really think about honoring those who have led the way. But we also need to think about the ideas of serving and being life giving as we contemplate electing those who will serve in leadership. Don’t listen just to words: they can be deceptive. Look at the fruit-what their actions reveal. We need men and women of honor and integrity who are there to serve the country not themselves.