ALL THE KING’S MEN
(excerpt from my pending commentary on Matthew)
Great leaders have a unique ability to gather about themselves capable men who can carry on the work in their absence. Such men, when carefully selected and properly trained, become an extension of the one who called them to serve. Franklin Roosevelt expressed the same sentiment when he wrote, “The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.” I am convinced that Jesus selected the men He did because He saw in them the conviction and determination it would take to carry the gospel to the lost and dying world. I came across this little tidbit some years ago. Unfortunately the author was not provided: “A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent. In the end, leaders are much like eagles: they don’t flock; you find them one at a time” (author unknown). Jesus must have seen in these men such courage, confidence, and compassion, because He invited them, first to “follow me” (Matt. 9:9; John 1:43), and then to “go into all the world” (Matt. 28:18-20). These twelve men became the King’s men – men who could, would, and did accomplish great things for the cause of their Master. Consider the following:
First, Jesus selected men with the necessary assets for great leadership. There was nothing special in these men so far as the world defines greatness. None of these men held degrees at UJ (University of Jerusalem), held a political office in Rome, wrote a book, or travelled with the elite of Hollywood. They were just ordinary men, but men who would rise to the occasion when given the opportunity. Admiral Halsey once said: “There are no great men; only great challenges to which ordinary men must rise to meet.” This is certainly true with the King’s men the Bible calls “apostles.”
Second, Jesus selected men to whom He would then give authority and power to accomplish the daunting task of taking the gospel to the whole world (Mark 16:15). God has always provided the means to accomplish what He has commanded men to do. To Moses He gave a simple staff. To David He gave five smooth stones. To Ezra he provided a pulpit. To Samson He gave the jawbone of an ass. To Gideon He gave a trumpet. To these twelve men He would give the ability to perform great miracles. But in all of these examples, such great and godly men have been given authority to represent the God Whom they serve.
Third, with the assets of great leadership, and delegated authority from the King, these men went forth to advance the greatest cause in heaven and on earth. Beloved, there is a cause that is worth fighting for! When David demonstrated the courage necessary to face Goliath, it was Eliab, his oldest brother, whose anger was kindled against the young lad. He accused David of being arrogant and haughty, and he said, “Why art thou come down? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thy heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle” (1 Sam. 17:28). To which David responded: “What have I now done? Is there not a cause?” (1 Sam. 17:29). David’s response embodies the spirit that Jesus saw in these twelve men. Jesus’ cause became their cause, and their cause is our cause. Oh yes, there is a cause! Give men the realization that their cause is worth fighting for, and they can, and will, accomplish great things. Alexander Campbell was just such a man. He was in his study by 4:00 a.m. every morning. He could write sufficient material before breakfast to keep his printers occupied throughout the day. He was the author of 30 years of the Millennial Harbinger. He served as president of Bethany College for 25 years. He preached throughout our country, and in Great Britain. It is said that he once walked 23 miles to keep one preaching appointment. He memorized almost all of the New Testament, the Psalms and Proverbs – in English AND Greek. It is reported that he died on a Sunday night quoting the book of Proverbs in the Greek. How do we account for the amazing things he accomplished in his lifetime? The answer is found in the cause for which he labored. We could go on, but this is enough to make our point: Give a man a cause he can believe in, and for which he is willing to die, and he will achieve the unbelievable. George Liddell is credited with the following:
Give me a man of God–one man,
Whose faith is master of his mind,
And I will right all wrongs
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Give me a man of God–one man,
True to the vision that he sees,
And I will build your broken shrines
And bring the nations to their knees.
I cannot close this week’s article without calling to our remembrance the words of Theodore Roosevelt when he said:
It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat (available on multiple website sources of quotes).
I don’t know about you, but I am thankful for all the King’s men who paved the way for us, and gave us a challenging example to follow
By Tom Wacaster