Bob Schaffer, Chairman
A week before the 2008 election, radio host Hugh Hewitt addressed a Denver political audience. He asked, “Are you all in?”
Hewitt’s question clarifies a central theme of leadership. In order to succeed one must be willing to take risks and put certain comforts aside. His point was reminiscent of the 1148 BC election.
Immediately upon the death of Israel’s ideal judge Gideon the race to replace him was on. Of his seventy sons, Abimelech was first to declare his candidacy.
Abimelech ran a negative campaign designed to neutralize his competitors early. He murdered all of his brothers; except for Jotham, the youngest, who escaped.
Just as Abimelech was to be inaugurated, Jotham appeared. Jotham called on righteous, capable Israelites to come forward and assert honorable leadership. None would. Jotham pleaded for a virtuous leader through a parable.
The trees needed a king for themselves, Jotham said. The olive tree was asked to serve first, but refused not wanting to give up its oil by which men and gods are honored.
The fig tree was next asked to serve, but refused not wanting to give up its fruit. Then the vine was offered the job, but it refused not wanting to give up its wine which cheers both gods and men.
Eventually the thorny bramble accepted the throne. Chaos and misery ensued.
Ignoring Jotham’s parable, Israel went ahead and crowned Abimelech. Chaos and misery ensued (Read full story in Judges 9).
The moral of the story is also Hewitt’s point. When good people won’t go “all in,” thorny brambles do. Chaos and misery ensue.
Edmund Burke put it another way, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Yes, good leaders must be willing to give up good things.
At LPR, we’re all about organizing good people to be “all in.”
Posted on
Saturday, December 6, 2008
by Jenn Hamann