Vertical News - March 2009

“I would rather see a sermon lived than hear one any day.”

This old saying makes the point that what we observe others doing—especially those in positions of responsibility—often has a much greater impact on us than what they may say or teach. Children are great examples of this principle, often emulating what parents do more than what Mom and Dad tell them to do. Of course, grown-ups do the same. When leaders set examples of greed, sexual immorality and aberrant lifestyles, many within society begin reflecting these same wrong behaviors.

One of the more stunning examples of greed in the news recently was the revelation that Bernard Madoff, former chairman of the NASDAQ stock exchange and owner of a large New York based investment firm, was actually running a Ponzi scheme—a fraudulent investment scheme named after one of the greatest swindlers in U.S. history, Charles Ponzi. Upon investigation, Mr. Madoff admitted that his firm had liabilities of more than US$50 billion. Many of the investors were wealthy individuals, major corporation pension funds and charitable institutions who trusted Mr. Madoff with their investment funds. Now they are facing the reality of their money being lost forever.

While this incident drew great attention in the news, it seems that other investment funds may have been run similarly to Mr. Madoff's and likewise cost their investors millions of dollars. Adding to the public outrage against this kind of fraud, we regularly hear reports of company executives who receive phenomenal salaries and bonuses while their companies teeter on the brink of bankruptcy.

Sometimes the impact of a mistake can be lessened when a person admits he or she made a mistake. After King DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. committed adultery with Bathsheba and their newborn son lay dying, his servants and advisers saw him refuse to eat and pray fervently to God (2 Samuel 12:15-20 [15] And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical., and it was very sick.
[16] DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. therefore besought God for the child; and DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
[17] And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
[18] And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
[19] But when DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. saw that his servants whispered, DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. perceived that the child was dead: therefore DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
[20] Then DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

See All...). They knew he was truly repentant for his sin. He didn't have to tell the people around him that he was sorry. They could see for themselves. This type of conduct actually sets a good example for those being governed. They see that even though everyone—even a leader—makes mistakes, the proper course of action is to admit the mistake and then once again live as God commands.

The life of DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. is a great illustration of both good and bad. Should we then conclude that it doesn't matter if we do wrong? No. DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. was always quick to repent when his sins were revealed to him. Rather than justifying himself, he acknowledged that his sins were first and foremost against God and His way of life (2 Samuel 12:13And DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical., The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
See All...).

In this way DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. set an example of repentance for others to see. He showed that he was not like other kings who demanded of others a life they themselves wouldn't live. God wants us to face our sin, repent and be a man or woman of integrity.

 

What sermon do we preach by our example? Do people see us doing what we say or just saying? As a reader of Vertical Thought you have already made the commitment to understand how life works and to think vertically as God's Word directs. The next step is to live a positive example for others to see and follow.

As worldly institutions around us fail and the negative examples pile up, our positive example will stand out more and more to that world. Let's remember that we are being watched by others and that they are more interested in seeing a sermon lived than hearing one.