FOR JESUS’ LOVE 2
Leadership Traits
By
Dr. Gale A. Ragan-Reid (June 22, 2017)
“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” (St. John 21:15-17, King James Version [Christ’s charge to Peter]}
Greetings in the Holy Name of Jesus,
My brothers and sisters, some of you, if not all of you, to say the most instead of the least about the body of Christ Jesus versus the world population find themselves ensconced in the faith of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, in the refuge of Jesus---trying to make a difference in our world condition---formidably, the status quo. I say ensconced because prior to Jesus we held firm that we were in Abraham, before Abraham in Noah, before Noah in Adam and Eve, after the fall, before the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden in God. Constantly, in a need of a refuge, not loving and loyal to our God, of a sinful nature---howbeit we step out from under our covering, come from behind the hedge of protection, out from under the eagles’ wings to make poor choices in decision making. In the first part of our series for Jesus’ Love we talked about two well-known figures in biblical knowledge, Peter the rock of the church also David carried the same weight of leadership the stone of the church [“But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel;)”, Genesis 49:24, KJV], how Peter exemplified the leadership trait, love---love for Jesus because in order to show love for humanity, love for the brothers and sisters Peter obviously needed to prove himself capable of loving Jesus. Yes, indeed. Additionally, we talked about King Saul, incapable of following God’s instructions delivered to him through the Prophet Samuel---loyalty in question---not to his subjects for he had no problems there but loyalty to the Almighty God.
Now, we must discuss Job---a well-thought of pious believer of his time who even though he earmarked the integrity leadership trait he still was tested by Satan whether he would remain loyal to God in the midst of misfortune for it is so easy to love and show loyalty with integrity when you are in the abundant living days but what happens to a man’s spirit to his soul when he must greatly suffer and what happens to influence a man in suffering when his friends and all the people he calls his supporters
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can no longer stand to watch or be in his company while he suffers, for Job was told, “…curse God and die.” Let us look at the integrity of Job and understand it better in his suffering. For many have heard those people, maybe some were friends until they broke shattering in pieces over the stench of disease, sickness and/or poverty, who watched the suffering of another man, woman or child say, ‘I can’t take it anymore.’ Now Job was known to be perfect and upright…one that feared God and eschewed evil [The Book of Job1:1, KJV [Job smitten with boils] ---“and still he holdeth fast his integrity.”[2:3]. Thereby, Job exemplified soundness; adherence to a code of values; utter sincerity, honesty, and candor; completeness, so much so he judged his own children for Job said, ‘…It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.’ [1:5]. For sure, God let Satan use the same weight Job used against his children, whether he would curse God but now Job’s children were in abundant living so why did he think they still would curse God, if they did they would not be alone in disbelief for Abraham had to leave his family to follow God but why did Job think so, of his own children.
In order to find out the truth Job’s integrity was tested---how far he would go in suffering, waiting on the LORD before he cursed God. Since Satan went forth out of the presence of God and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown [2:7], Job’s wife asked him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die.”[2:9]. Job held up and he did not sin, for he told his wife she spoke as one of the foolish women, for he also said, “What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? [2:10]. Now when Job’s friends heard of the evil that fell upon their friend, they came to visit him and when they arrived from afar off they could not recognize him, so they sat with him for seven days and seven nights, not uttering a word, for they saw his grief was very great [2:11-13]. Now, how did Job open up to his friends’ silence but to complain about life, cursing the day he was born, still not cursing God [3:1-26]? We discover how a man feels about his friends, for Job’s friends, each one of them and Job engaged in long talks about his condition and his relationship with God.
Firstly, Eliphaz the Temanite spoke to Job about how he instructed many and strengthened weak hands, how his words upheld those that were falling and strengthened feeble knees [4:1-4]…. So, too, are we mighty in our works with others but what happens to our belief when we suffer? Eliphaz cut to the chase and asked Job if this suffering was his fear, his confidence, his hope, and the uprightness of his ways and judged his innocence, for who ever perished, being innocent or where were the righteous cut off?”[4:6-7]. Eliphaz went as far as to compare Job’s condition as reaping the same as those who plowed iniquity and sowed wickedness [4:8]. I know from my experiences Eliphaz’ words touched Job’s heart and pierced his soul, for Eliphaz chipped away at his integrity, leveling him down to no better than a common sinner, not a virtuous man of esteem with integrity. Eliphaz did not stop there and questioned the harm of inconsideration that others possibly held against him since his sore condition prevailed and because of his sore condition they might think God is no longer with him. Eliphaz told Job to call and see if any would answer him and asked which ones of the saints he could turn to?[5:1].
How could Job be effective in leadership with the harm of inconsideration? Now, I know that you know how it feels when inconsideration destroys your reputation and you find your witness limited to
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your die hard friends like Eliphaz was to Job. Job wished for death and spoke in anguish, ‘Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!”[6:1]. And Job said, “ Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? ...”[7:1]. What is happening to Job’s integrity in suffering---his faith is shaking---blowing in the wind, for he is fearing his own death checking up on the appointed time of man on earth, for he does not know that God told Satan ‘but save his life.’ at the onset when he permitted Satan to test Job whether he would curse God [2:4-6].
Secondly, Bildad the Shuhite spoke and questioned Job’s respect and loyalty to God’s decision to test him and compared Job’s mouth to a strong wind when he said, “Doth God pervert judgement? Or doth the Almighty pervert justice?’[8:1-3]. Bildad went further and questioned how Job would feel if God decided to test his children? [8:4-5] when he said:
“if thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression; if thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; if thou were pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.” [8:4-7]
Bildad reflected on all that troubled Job’s heart---his children, his posture of purity and uprightness and his belief in God to deliver him in his time of need for what he did for others surely God would do for Job, for did God believe that Job believed that He would see him through. Remember, Job did not know that God told Satan to save his life[2:6]. Bildad responded to Job’s question about a man’s life when he said, “(For we are but yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow?”[8:9].
At this point, with what Job said and how Job’s friends witnessed to him, so far two of his friends Eliphaz, the Temanite and Bildad, the Shuhite were able to get Job to acknowledge his belief and expostulate with God so that Job left his complaint when he said, ‘I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?...My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. I will say unto God, do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.’’[10:1-2] . Job did not stop talking since he said he left his complaint so his last friend responded to Job. Zophar the Naamathite questioned whether Job’s many words should be answered and should a man full of talk be justified?’ Zophar dug in with his spurs on his boots as a rider does to start a horse to a fast gallop when he questioned the truth of Job’s many words when he said, “Should thy lies make men hold their peace? And when thy mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?”[11:3] and when he questioned Job’s loyalty to God’s decision to test him when he said, “Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection? [11:7]. We must stop here and reflect on Job’s integrity in suffering, for how big is your integrity, how big is your loyalty, how big is your love, all for God?
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More importantly was Job’s process of speaking out his words and receiving instruction as his friends’ perceived what he said truth, yet Job fought through his process as if he did not get it or he did not understand what he was going through---the why---until he spoke everything out as if God did not know the torment of his heart about his life, his children, his wife and even his friends when Job said to Zophar, “But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?’[12:3]. Finally, Job’s ears heard all that was said to him, “Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.’[12:9-10]…”Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it. What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.””[13:1-2]. As we reflect on Job, it is not difficult to see that he is a man of many words and he will not change his way of talk---his style, we also see he felt that they see him as inferior—-when he sees himself as superior but does he see himself as big as the Almighty God in his uprightness and perfection---in his integrity? Do we become bigger than our God and only hear our words? Job repents for he sees the blessing of repentance. He does not curse God, for he exuded confidence in God and waited for God to change his condition [chapters 13 and chapters 14]. Job’s friends continued to break down his resolve further to get him to the unquietness of wicked men but Job declared his innocence [chapters 15, 16 and 17].
Furthermore, the talks between Job and his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar continued until the wrath of Elihu was kindled and he spoke, ‘So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.’[321-3]. They, all of them found themselves in talks that led back to God called man to repent and God cannot be unjust [chapters 33 and 34]. When they talked about God is just in his ways [chapter35] and the greatness of God’s works[chapter 36-37], God answered Job and God’s power prevailed for Job repented and submitted himself to God but God’s wrath came against his three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shumite and Zophar the Naamathite for God said, ‘My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.”[42:7-9], for Job prayed for his friends, “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.”[42:10].
In closing, Job spoke of the thing that is right, sometimes obviously it takes many words to speak to God about the thing that is right. Job talked until God answered him and delivered him out of captivity, until God turned the captivity of Job[42:10]. All Job’s brethren who left him who could not stand to watch his suffering returned. Job made it through---talking all the way through, defending his faith, steadfast and true to his thought process. I thank God for his mercy and I thank God for receiving Job back into the fold of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. Thank you Jesus.
Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. For, I, too have been one of many words when caught up in captivity until Satan loosed me---God took me back in the fold of Christ Jesus. There are some who do not say anything and wait on the LORD and there are some who talk until God delivers them out of
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captivity. I do not think the leadership styles of defense are in question here but the process that a man goes through to get to truth---the thing that is right is very much in question here as it was what God required to release Job out of captivity.
