Crowns, Kings, Tyrants, & Servants

"Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. " Proverbs 17:6

"A crown says we have been put in a position of privilege. But it's a position that has subjects whom we are responsible to lead with wisdom. Our children and grandchildren need to be able to trust us to walk worthy of our calling as people who have been appointed by God for a sacred purpose. We need to wear our crowns responsibly. It starts by reeling in our egos and rolling out God's grace." Extreme Grandparenting, p 29

The Bible tells about many kings who wore crowns. Some were good kings like Josiah, who led their people toward God. Some were wicked kings like Jeroboam, who led their people away from God. As God dealt with these wicked kings, He made it very clear that with God-given authority comes God-given responsibility. In other words, when God gives us influence and authority over others, He holds us responsible for the way in which we wield that influence and authority.

God expects us to use our influence and authority

to lead others toward God, not away from Him.

History books also tell about kings who wore crowns. Some were good kings who put their people's needs above their own needs. Some were bad kings (tyrants) who put their own needs above their people's needs. It seems to me that the tyrants assumed the privilege of the crown, but shunned the responsibility. On the other hand, the good kings assumed both the privilege and the responsibility.

Thinking about the King of Kings, He did something extraordinarily above and beyond any other king that ever lived. Jesus Christ laid aside the privilege of the kingly crown to wear a crown of thorns. Yet He never laid aside the responsibility of His kingly crown. He never once placed His own needs above the needs of His people. He owned it all, but He gave it all up for His people. He owed no debt, yet He shed His own blood to pay all the debt of His sinful people. He deserved all the acclaim, but He endured all the shame of the cross for His people.

Good kings die to self and live as servants to those they govern.

Prayer for Camp

Titus 2:11-15
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

The same grace of God that brought us to salvation, also teaches us to:
(1) deny ungodliness and worldly lusts
(2) live soberly, righteously, godly in THIS PRESENT WORLD
(3) look for the return of Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us that he might
(a) redeem us from all iniquity,
(b) purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

People sometimes talk about grace almost as if it is a free pass to sin. "Since all my sin is forgiven, there's no motivation to stop sinning." But the New Testament refutes that reasoning over and over. These verses in Titus associated grace with putting away sin...

These verses in Titus are another version of Paul's familiar "put off / put on" theme. We are to "put off" ungodliness and worldly lusts. We are to "put on" soberness, righteousness, godliness. And our motivation is to be the hope of Jesus Christ's FUTURE return, the remembrance of his PAST great sacrifice for us, and the purification that he wills for us in this PRESENT life.

My prayer for the youth at camp this year is that the important concepts in these four verses would be conveyed through the preaching, music, games, and counseling with the unction of the Holy Spirit. I pray that they will accept the message with joy, and return home to live the message out with joy in their lives, even in the face of contention and resistance.