It’s a sad day for any nation, organization, or fellowship when persons of low character get power. This truth is illustrated by a parable told by Jotham, son of Gideon, to the elders of Shechem after they’d passed him up and made a scoundrel (Abimelech) their king, and just because he was one of them—because he belonged to their tribe. I love this parable found in Judges 9:6-15:
“And all the leaders of Shechem came together, and all Beth-Millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem. When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim, cried aloud, and said to them, ‘Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you. The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and hold sway over the trees?’ And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’ But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?’ And the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us.’But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?’ Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in good faith you are anointing me, king, over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”
What are some differences between olive trees, fig-trees, grape vines, and a bramble bush?
- Fruit trees are valued for their sweet, life-giving, visible fruit, but the bramble bush is barren.
- Fruit trees have earned a reputation by their service to mankind. The bramble has no such reputation.
- Fruit trees and fruitful vines have passed through seasons of painful pruning, while the bramble grows wild.
The men of Shechem chose the bramble bush instead of the fruit tree, and it cost them their lives! Whom would you rather rule over you? Not all Christian Leaders are equal, and over the years I’ve noted some important distinctions. Here are a few:
- People of good character—Olive tree leaders—gain power, or influence, through their integrity. People of low character—bramble bushes—know that they can’t gain power through integrity so they grab it through gifts, cleverness, and connections.
Integrity is vital to the preservation of everything worth preserving. Many years ago, the Southern Baptist Convention made this resolution in response to Bill Clinton’s immoral acts in the White House: “Tolerance of serious wrong by leaders sears the conscience of the culture, spawns unrestrained immorality and lawlessness in the society, and surely results in God‘s judgment“ (from, The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory, by Tim Alberta).
- Olive tree leaders have earned respect, so they lead in love. People are attracted to them and are naturally influenced by them. Bramble bush leaders have not earned respect, so they create fear.
- Olive tree leaders have gained power through a servant’s heart by listening, learning, teaching, meeting needs, and being “present.” Servant leadership produces an atmosphere of loyal love, but bramble bush leaders have not earned loyalty, so they hold onto power by silencing their critics (and other power plays).
- Olive tree leaders have gained power through the sanctification of suffering, while bramble bushes have taken the easiest path to the “top.”
- Olive tree leaders leave a good legacy, while bramble bushes leave a stain. They bring pain on themselves and all who follow them (judges 9:22-23; 52-54).
Conclusion
What kind of “ruler” will you be, an olive tree or a bramble bush?
