Our World Does Not Need More Clever Men or Rich Men But It Certainly Needs Godly Men and Women

Leaders have to cope with riches and responsibilities and this man certainly knew how to handle both of these tricky areas of life.

After all I have said regarding our riches in Christ, and what we are in Christ, and what we have in Christ, I want to write to you now about our responsibilities.

We have such privileges and that is why Peter goes on right away to speak of responsibilities. Privileges always bring responsibilities, and we read of this crucial matter in the first Chapter of Peter's first letter in the New Testament.

Do read it as it has much to impart to anyone in leadership or training and preparing for leadership.

Prepare your minds for action, or roll up the sleeves of your mind and think straight and know clearly what you believe and why. That is vital no matter type of leadership position you may be in and no matter what type of business.

Be self-controlled. Be sober or rational or reasonable. Let no-one else control you, and nothing else control you.

Don't get intoxicated with fashionable ideas. We are not to adopt the latest opinions.

Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

We need an anchor. Here it is. How many have drifted and wandered and have fallen into debt or ruined a company or their personal reputation because they have not been securely anchored to finest and highest and best possible principles.

This one thing I know Peter is saying to these disciples of Jesus who are having a very hard time, and it is the fact that Jesus Christ is coming back.

Peter assumes that despite the hardships they are obedient men and women and he writes to them saying, do not let your possessions or desires possess you.

A man was overheard saying to his paintings one day, "You make it so hard for me to die". We can be a can be a slave to what we possess or what we desire. How tragically sad when anyone reaches these circumstances.

Another man told me of how he had been left a legacy of financial shares and he started reading the financial pages of the newspaper for the first time and then spent more time reading the financial section than he did with his Bible, but he soon realised the error of his ways. To waste one's time in such a manner when there are more important issues to attend to can be nothing other than sin.

It is good when leaders learn the error of their ways, and correct matters before they lose control.

Our world does not need more clever men or more rich men but it certainly needs more godly men and women.

Sandy Shaw

Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children's Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.
He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org/ entitled "Word from Scotland" on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.
His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.


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