The Statesman Committed to Building Others Up

A useful way to look at the life of the Statesman is through the perspective of relationships. There are several critical ones in the Statesman’s life.

First, there are the people served. Whatever the Statesman’s position, there is a population affected by each one’s decisions. Since the ultimate goal is that each member of society experience “a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:2), each one must be viewed as having a human face, ultimately considered a friend.

Second, government is best viewed as an army serving the people. In each of our nations, a significant proportion of the population (typically 10-20%) is in the employ of government – a vast army charged with serving the people and making their lives better. The Statesman serving within that army cannot achieve his noble goals by himself. The effectiveness of that army is not determined by the Statesman alone but is determined by everyone serving in this vast army. The inter-personal connections of the Statesmen within that army are immense. Those who share service in this official capacity include superiors, colleagues, and subordinates.

Finally, there are the relationships in the Statesman’s personal life.

All of these relationships are a privilege and also a responsibility. Consider our Creator’s instructions regarding the relationships in our lives:

So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another (Romans 14:9).

Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves. Each one of us must please his neighbor for his good, to build him up (Roman 15:1-2).

No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person (1 Corinthians 10:24).

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

The principle here is that with everyone we interact, whether officially or personally, our goal should be to serve them and help them to have a better life.

This makes sense when one views the official as a shepherd of the sheep, protecting the sheep and making their lives the best possible. The Statesman is one committed to improving the quality of the people he serves so that they can experience all the benefits our Creator intends for them. This can only happen when those serving the people are committed to providing this quality of life. The more effective we can help our colleagues and subordinates to become, the more effective we can become as an army shepherding the people and meeting their needs.

The better my colleague can do, the better we can perform as a team. This is so logical that one might presume that it would be automatic that we should build up our teammates in order to be more effective as a team in building up the people whom we serve. And yet the perspective of the intended recipients – the people – is that this rarely happens.

You may ask “Where does one begin?” God begins with this practical step:

For you were called to be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love (Galatians 5:13).

“Serve one another through love.” This leads us to one of the teachings from our Creator:

No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person (1 Corinthians 10:24).

“No one should seek his own good.” What stands in the way is focusing on our “own good”. When one recognizes that immense authority is vested in government that the powerless are unable to exercise for themselves and which is to be used to specifically meet the needs of those who are otherwise powerless, it is hardly to be supposed that one holding that power would misuse it for himself. And yet, this is where we each need help to overcome our “own good”.

This is made even more challenging when we consider that within the government itself, there is the temptation to gain even greater amount of authority – more concerned about our own power than strengthening the team or building up our ultimate target, the people.

Before we can effectively help the people, we must effectively deal with our own aspirations. The solution is:

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:19-20).

Here, we need help that can only come from God:

For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose (Philippians 2:13).

We need God’s guidance and support to keep our responsibility as servant and shepherd in perspective. We need help from God, as He promises:

I am with you… I will strengthen you… I will help you. I will hold onto you with My righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).

We need confidence that our God, whom we are called to serve as His hands and feet in meeting the needs of the people, will reward us for that life of obedience – that we may hear at the end of our lives:

Well done, good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:21).

APPLICATION FOR THE STATESMAN:

Am I in government for the purpose of building people up, helping them to experience the full potential for which our Lord created them?
Does the civilian population recognize the government as an army working harmoniously to meet their needs?
Am I viewed among the civilian population, as well as my colleagues as one who builds them up and makes their lives better?
Can I accept my own promotion or advancement as dependent upon the hand of our Lord in response to my effectiveness as a servant?