THE HEART OF A KING

 

© Morris E. Ruddick

 

“When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more. W hen they had received the same , they complained saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and we have borne the burden and the heat of the day.' But he answered, ‘friend, did you not agree on this amount? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give this last man the same as you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what I own? Or is your eye evil because I am good?' So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” Matthew 20: 10-16

 

This parable is part of a sequence of teachings on the Kingdom of God . It follows the story of passing through the eye of the needle as an illustration of the difficulty for a rich man entering the Kingdom. It includes Jesus' admonition to the young ruler to sell all that he had to reorient his priorities as a prelude to becoming Jesus' follower. It precedes His teaching on serving being the foundation to true greatness.

 

What follows then is the parable of the two sons working in their father's vineyard; then the very strong statement Jesus made to the scribes and Pharisee about having the Kingdom taken from them and given to a people bearing the fruits of it.

 

The theme of entering the Kingdom and bearing fruit differentiates believers from followers. It explains the difference between the called and the chosen in the opening parable, as well as the hurdles for the rich man in Matthew 19. The issue bears not on our salvation, but to the Kingdom role that we as individuals, as well as a Body are to play out on the earth. It is the basis for what the Apostle Paul described in Ephesians 4 of not being tossed to and fro like children.

 

It is at the heart of the parable of the sheep and the goats.

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we feed You, take You in, or clothe You? He will answer them, ‘In as much as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'”

Matthew 25: 37-46

 

Beyond the dichotomy between the social gospel and the gospel of salvation is the issue in Matthew 20:16 bearing on, not our salvation, but the calling we have as His followers in serving in His vineyard: in the Kingdom.

So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

 

The Focus

The Kingdom message for most in the church has come to be reduced to the hereafter and what will unfold in the millennium, while we acquiesce to living within the parameters being outlined by the world.

 

Jesus came to restore the foundations. He came to seek and save that which was lost at Adam's “fall.” So His earthly ministry was introduced with the words: “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” The central thrust of His message reflects the principles of the Kingdom of God . Jesus not only prepared His followers with the principles to operate with Kingdom authority, but He clearly po inted to the narrow path of the destiny of His followers. He repeatedly demonstrated Kingdom authority and modeled the calling wherever He went. Then He passed the mantle to His followers .

 

In Matthew 28 Jesus said: “Go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you.” This mandate was entrusted to a small contingent of some of the most unlikely followers. It was the mandate that God had given to man at creation: dominion.

 

The Original Mandate

God created man to exercise dominion over all the earth.

 

The fall of man would impact the way dominion would be implemented. Despite wide swings in the use and misuse of power, God's original intention has been punctuated by key individuals who have ushered in societal transformation marked by God at the center.

 

The Apostle Paul captured the dynamic in his letter to the Romans: “creation itself longs for the revealing of the sons of God that it might be delivered from the bondage of corruption as it gains entrance into this glorious freedom.”

 

The God-Centered Culture

The original mandate and Jesus' Matthew 28 mandate point to something more than our Western focus of the gospel. It's where the gospel of salvation and the social gospel collide: with the gospel of the Kingdom. It is the gospel that people run to because they see the reality and demonstration of God operating in their midst. It is the gospel where God is at the center of everyday life.

 

The Church that started out as being described as “ turning the world upside down ,” waned in the original mandate for God's people exercising dominion over the work of His hands. Still, the Church has spread the spiritual precepts of the faith to the ends of the earth.

 

On the other hand, over the centuries of the Diaspora, the Jewish people have contributed to and wielded the influence to society around them that has shaped the governmental, economic, justice and the moral standards of Western society. Yet, despite the temptation for many to “be like everyone else,” as a people they have maintained their unique identity.

 

At the heart of the remarkable impact the Jewish people have made on Western civilization has been the principles contained in the books of Moses. These are the principles governing the economic community model operated by Abraham. Jesus elaborated on these truths, demonstrating and imparting through them, the keys to how the Kingdom of God operates. His purpose was to restore the intent God had at the beginning: for his people to rule over the work of His hands.

 

Bearing the Fruits

Moses' father-in-law Jethro unveiled the distinction between the principles, the pathway and the work tied to our callings, as being foundational to leadership.

“Teach them the principles and precepts; then show them the pathway in which they must walk for the work that they must do.” Exodus 18:20

 

Central to what Jesus imparted to His followers on the Kingdom was the connection between stewardship and righteousness; and between leadership and service. The parable of the man with two sons is an indictment against those designated as heirs, who pass through the gates, but who don't have a grasp of the pathway or priorities to their true calling. It confuses building their own empire at the gates with bearing fruit for the Kingdom.

“A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.' He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went. He went to the second son and said likewise. He answered him, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father? They said to Him, ‘The first.' So, Jesus said to them: surely, tax collectors and harlots will enter the kingdom of God before you.”

Matthew 21: 28-31

 

The parable of the talents demonstrates the pivotal emphasis to be given to stewardship, to bringing increase, within the framework of “each according to his own ability.” The separation of the sheep and goats bears on Jesus' word to the religious hypocrites that the Kingdom of God would be taken from them and given to a people bearing the fruits of the Kingdom. (Matthew 21: 43)

 

Longing for the Catalyst

As God's people, we have had the Truth. However, apart from those we refer to as the heroes of faith, the application of the Truth has fallen short of what “creation itself has longed for.” In the course of our everyday lives, dominion seems to either elude us or to take a back seat to the straining of gnats as the over-spiritualizing Pharisees did. In our zeal we cry out for that “something more.”

“So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

Matthew 20:16

 

There indeed is a deep longing to see the Truth we wield consistently converging with the dynamic that enabled the models of faith from times past. Joseph the Patriarch demonstrated it under the most adverse of circumstances. Daniel exercised it when immersed in a culture of sorcery. David, as a most unlikely candidate, prevailed with it and ushered His people into a time of great unity and peace. Jesus made it the central message of His earthly ministry.

 

So, what is the catalyst? What distinguishes His followers from being in the world, but not of the world? What is it that ignites the flame that consistently bears fruit worthy of repentance; that results in those known by His Name being considered the “righteous” who have brought the type of change that marks the difference between the called and chosen?

 

The Foundation

In short, Jesus prepared and released His followers to operate with the heart of a king.

 

A recent movie, “The Gladiator,” illustrates the significance tied to a kingly heart. The hero of the story is a famous Roman General, who became a slave and a gladiator. His kingly character was always recognized regardless of his rank or position. In the end, he did more for the Rome he loved as a slave/gladiator than he had ever done as a conquering General.

 

Those anointed to lead among God's people are those who nurture the kingly heart within the community they lead. Jesus' followers are those tasked with picking up His mantle to bring dominion and establish God's Kingdom rule. They do so within the economic community dimensions of where people live their lives.

“Jesus said to them, peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, so I also send you.”

John 20:21

 

Embracing the kingly heart that brings dominion must first ensure it avoids the type of heart that perverts its authority. Proverbs 30 provides keen insight into the positional deceptions to the kingly heart. It says: “Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up: a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when glutted with food; an unloved woman when she gets a husband and a maid when she succeeds her mistress.”

 

The king who has the heart of a slave is one who misuses authority. The leader who has a heart of a fool is ruled by desires. The one in charge without love will never trust and the ruler with an oppressed heart will pervert authority. These elements congeal into what scripture refers to as “ the bondage of corruption ” or what we commonly refer to as the abuse of power.

 

The Kingly Mantle

The mark of true leadership is not position, but influence. Despite Joseph and Daniel being slaves, they never succumbed to a slave's heart. They operated with the heart of a king. They demonstrated the reality of God in a way that all those around them recognized the blessings that flowed through them as coming from God.

 

A true king is not determined by position or wealth, but by his heart. A king is one who not only brings influence, but serves as a catalyst for opportunity that brings blessing to those in his realm. A true king builds and replicates. A true king mobilizes others to enable opportunity that breathes life into not only individuals, but the impact made on the community.

 

The heart of a king in God's Kingdom is significantly different from that of the world. That's what Jesus drilled into His followers. Their kingly roles began with their identity in God and manifested through the unique expressions of the gifts of the Spirit, each of which have their basis in serving.

 

The lynchpin of a king's heart is honor. A king's heart reflects a character of honor. Without honor, the one in the role of king is only serving a position. It is the issue Jesus addressed with Martha, who being distracted with all her activities, was admonished to getting her priorities right (Luke 10:38).

 

The one called to operate with the heart of the King cannot be like everyone else. Worldly rulers are driven by ego, passions, power, their lusts and ambition. The Kingdom operates on a completely different premise. On the surface these dynamics appear paradoxical to their intent, but in reality they are the keys to the Kingdom. We lead by serving. We advance by yielding. Honor comes through humility. Wisdom is found in simplicity. Making your assets multiply will bring promotion. Growth comes by giving to others. We extend love to our enemies. Our purpose in life comes through giving it up. We receive when giving. Perfect love eliminates fear. In our weakness we are made strong. Ownership increases by sharing. We bless those who curse us.

 

Kingdom leadership carries an identity that is distinctly different from the ways of the world. Its influence is from far more than natural ability, with the impact being recognized as done through God.

 

“The Kingdom of God is at hand.” The longing of all creation is for the sons of God to embrace their kingly hearts; to pick up their mantles so the Kingdom will manifest.

“What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet…” Psalm 8:4-6 NASU

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Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner and spokesman for the call of God in the marketplace. He is author of "The Joseph-Daniel Calling" and "Gods Economy , Israel and the Nations," which address the mobilization of business and governmental leaders called to impact their communities with God's blessings. They are available from Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and other popular outlets.

Mr. Ruddick is also the founder of the Global Equippers Entrepreneurial Program, which imparts hope and equips economic community builders where God's light is dim in both the Western and non-Western world. To schedule a speaking engagement, sponsor a workshop, make a donation or to get more information on how you can help, contact Global Initiatives at 303.741.9000.

2009 Copyright Morris Ruddick - info@strategic-initiatives.org

Reproduction is prohibited unless permission is given by a SIGN advisor.  Since 1996, the Strategic Intercession Global Network (SIGN) has mobilized prophetic intercessors committed to targeting strategic-level issues impacting the Body on a global basis.  For previous posts or more information on SIGN, check:  http://www.strategicintercession.org