Seeking the Oval Office

In case you have missed it, there is an election coming up in November. Candidates from both parties are hot on the campaign trail, all desiring to convince their party's faithful that they are the best candidate for the job (and this campaigning has been going on for quite some time). The election I am referring to is the upcoming election for President. However, this election does not take place this coming November, but November of 2008. So all this hubbub over an election that is still 14 months or 61 weeks or 432 days or 10,368 hours away! What will the campaigning be like next year at this time? Downright unbearable if you ask me! But then again, who's asking?

I have always wondered why anyone would want to become President of the United States. For starters, there will always be approximately half the population that the President will never please. In addition, any privacy one enjoyed prior to becoming President is gone forever! The pressure to perform is relentless, and the daily stress must be unimaginable. Yet, intelligent (for the most part!) people work tirelessly in their effort to gain the right to sit in the Oval Office. Each one has their motivations, and I will not speculate as to what they might be.

But when it comes to leadership in the Church of Jesus Christ, the New Testament makes it clear as to what one's motivation to serve must be. The Apostle Peter puts it this way, "To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away" (1 Peter 5:1-4).


Thanks for listening,

pj