Weaned Leadership

UV 1290/10,000 Weaned Leadership
Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.
Psalm 131 v 2
Conquerors in history are never contented with their conquest. They want to conquer and annex more land and people. Capitalists are not contented with their great wealth- they always want to multiply it further. Rulers want to add to their power and stature. People want to add to their wealth and resources. Children want more toys. Women want more clothes and shoes. Builders want to build more. Winners want to win more. And so on. The list of human wants is endless. We are like children who are never satisfied with the milk we have drunk. We want more and more. Those who want more and more are like immature feeding children. But God’s call to us is to be like a child who is weaned, who no longer delights in the things of the world but delights in resting and trusting in God’s presence as a weaned child rests calm, assured, contented and secure in her mother’s arms. We are no longer to be concerned with great ambitions for ourselves but we wait calmly and patiently for the Lord to show us what we should do.

A weaned child is not a weak child. Our inner strength that is nourished by the grace of the Lord keeps us quiet and secure in the knowledge that the Lord will provide for us, that He will protect us and that He will promote us. We are responsible to consciously still and quieten our hitherto restless souls. Our food and meat that strengthens us is the Word that the Lord provides us day after day. A weaned child is a maturing person. Our physical habits and emotions are predictable even as our thoughts and ideas are unpredictable. A weaned child is a growing child. We do not stop growing all our lives even when we are old. Our growth is intentional and we pursue the goals the Lord sets for us. A weaned child is a well behaved and considerate person. We are gentle and compassionate, not always concerned only about our own need and interests but look to the needs and interests of others.

Leaders are to be weaned from the influences of the world and be influenced by the Word, to be secure but not complacent, to be strong and effective, to be calm but not silent in the face of untruth and injustice. This uni-verse is written by David as a king of Israel. Despite his great power and prowess, he knew compared with the Lord he was at best only a weaned child. Our contentment, our security, our joy and peace is found only in the presence of the Lord- a personal relationship with God. We have tasted of the Lord’s goodness. We are not guilty about our past, anxious about the present or fearful about the future. We are become like children ever ready to return to the embrace of our loving Father in heaven. We manifest not a careless attitude but a carefree attitude. We manifest a studied and practiced quietness, calmness, assurance, confidence, gentleness, humility and security in all our situations, circumstances and relationships.
Prateep V Philip