Published: May 21, 2007 08:37 am            

What is contentment? Leadership? Blend them together

GROVE CITY, Pa. — There's a tale of a king who was discontented.

In fact, he was so anxious, he couldn't sleep, rest or think. He called his wise men; his counselors to him, and asked them what he should do.

One very old and very wise man said, "Find a man in your kingdom who is content then wear his shirt a day and a night and you will be content."

That sounded like a good idea to the king, so he ordered some of his servants to search for such a person.

Days passed, and blended into weeks before his servants returned.

"Well," asked the king, "Did you find a contented man?"

"Yes, Sire," a servant replied.

"Where is his shirt?" asked the king.

"Your Majesty, he didn't have one."

Have you ever thought that if we had more stuff we would be contented?

I've thought of this sometimes.

Now, I think I have been blessed with more stuff than I ever had, but all this good fortune doesn't bring the contentment I seek.

That is why we take our thoughts to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

When we draw unto him, we find that when we lose the stuff, we still have him and the contentment.

He gives. Isn't that a tremendous thought?

Jesus also leads, with brings me to another good thought:

During the American Revolution, a man in civilian clothes rode past a group of soldiers, repairing a bridge over a small stream. Their leader was shouting orders at the men, but was making no attempt to help.

When the rider asked why he didn't lend a hand, the soldier said, "Sir, I am a corporal."

The stranger apologized, dismounted and proceeded to help the exhausted soldiers. With the job done, he turned to the corporal and said, "you need more help, son, call me."

With that, the commander in chief, George Washington, remounted his horse and rode on.

Jesus said that the greatest would be the least, and the leader would be the servant.

Sometimes we don't buy into that truth much. Perhaps that's why it's hard to find a true leader these days.

Maybe it would be good for some of our leaders to come down from their podiums and positions and provide some hands to help.

What do you think?

We have just come through a beautiful Easter season. We saw again, the women going early in the morning to the tomb of the greatest leader the world has ever known, and finding it empty.

From that day on, we see a new progress, and we find a real joy in following this Great Leader.

I am in my 90s and rely on the Lord for everything in my life.

He has been the guide. He is the leader I choose to follow.

And he has been with me all the way.



Richard Lichtenberger is a retired minister and a correspondent for Allied News.

        

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