Thought for the Week - 10th July 2022

Dear Friends, 

So as some point in the not-too-distant future there will be a new Prime Minister after the resignation of Boris Johnson this week. The Conservative Party will go through their leadership process and election, and it seems like it will be a pretty crowded field, selecting a new leader who will be invited by the Queen to form a government in her name. I read this week in an old Our Daily Bread reflection that in traditional African societies leadership succession is a serious decision. After a king’s demise, great care is taken in the selecting of the next ruler, and besides being from a royal family, the successor must be strong, fearless, and sensible. Candidates are questioned to determine if they will serve the people or rule with a heavy hand. The king’s successor needs to be someone who leads but also serves. In the gospel of Matthew we read the account of James and John’s mother coming to Jesus and asking that they may sit at his right and left in the kingdom of God. But Jesus questioned them, ‘Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?’, in other words can you take on the duties and responsibilities of leadership – would they be able to take the rough with the smooth? When the other disciples heard what had happened they were ‘indignant with the two brothers’, angry and resentful that such a request had been made and annoyed with the brothers and presumably also their mother. But Jesus has some very wise words about all who would seek to lead and exercise authority over others, saying, ‘whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’ (Matthew 20:26-28). Perhaps if it were a matter of serving and not counting the cost, even of laying down one’s life, then the question of leading whatever it may be – a church, a political party, a country – would be taken very much more seriously than it appears, and the right people – those qualified and gifted would come to the fore. We are called upon to pray for those in positions of leadership and authority – not because we necessarily support them – but because they are there at God’s design. In the apostle Paul’s first letter to Timothy he writes, ‘I urge, then, first of all that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour… (1 Timothy 2:1-3). May we pray for all those who exercise power and authority and may they be guided by the wisdom of God. 

Grace and peace

Neil

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