For The Love Of Man (11)

EVERY male is a natural born leader for it is expected – if not hoped, that he would be joined to his wife and lead a family. I find that one of the most delicate aspects of a leader’s make up – that he has to be matured sufficiently to be able to make an unemotional decision and at the same time be in touch with the feelings of those in his trust. He should be well balanced and decisively articulate enough to wield a sword in one hand and hold a child in the other; To succeed as a leader it is required that he be foresighted in order to anticipate the future still with enough humanity to live in the present; He should be focused enough not to be distracted and yet attentively aware… to fall or be in love. In light of this, we can see clearly that before he is able to truly lead anyone, he must first have possessed his own soul.

Sounds like a tall order? Perhaps… But to whom much is given much is expected. Let’s not proceed any further just yet, before we can speak of how a man ought to lead, we must deal with the man himself. Before a man (or woman) can lead, he must first learn to save his own self.
In this article, I would like to deal mainly about the status a man’s possessions gives him.

I find a lot of men as well as women have been deceived into believing that the kind of life they live is determined solely by their possessions. A lot of people spend a lifetime working for money, living for money and the things money can buy…or in other words, worshiping money. It is at the feet of money that many have sold their souls and have perverted their image and livelihood into something money or material wealth designed.

The Excellency Of Wisdom Versus Status And Wealth
For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
(Proverbs 4:3-7 KJV)

David was a wise man and he taught his son well. At a young age, Solomon was given a very grand offer “Ask! What shall I give you?” If the One who has everything were to make such an offer to you, what would be the first thing on your mind? Solomon chose wisdom…a intangible quality. True wealth is not material but immaterial.

Wisdom is the principal thing – it will serve you in every work of life, in your relationships – with God and with man, it will bring you before kings and make you fruitful in every area.

By wisdom, I do not mean the wisdom of this world for the wisdom of this world is a deception. But the wisdom that comes from God reveals life as it truly is. A lot of young men and old alike have given into the lies of society. Example, the deception that money will give you security…and quite plainly will make you rich! In this world, money/possessions will give you status but that status is a deception. And when a man is deceived he is blind to his own impoverishment.

The truth is that we all are alike; young and old, poor and rich and eventually money does fail. Every one comes into this world with nothing and will leave without a dime. I have not heard of one millionaire or billionaire or a poor man who left this world with a dime. We all leave our wealth behind to someone else. If this is so evidently true, we must ask ourselves what the true purpose of money is. The true purpose of everything we have been entrusted with by God including ourselves. This is where our image should come from, the principles we live by should come from the judgement of the word of God.

The Purpose Of Possessions – Luke 16:1-15
And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

(Luke 16:8-11 KJV)
Jesus told a story about a scoundrel that who was found wanting in his service to his master and was required to present his account on termination.