Up, Up, and Away

In Judges chapter eight Gideon wins a decisive military battle and becomes the leader of Israel. The people are so elated with him that they push to make him king. He refuses. The Biblical principal is that God is king of Israel.

However, in the end of the chapter his son from a concubine is named, Abimelech. Keil and Delitzsch commentators tell us that the name means, "King's father." The indication is that Gideon named his son, "kings father." He refused the kingdom, but obviously rethought it later and began to think of ways to grab the power of the King's position.

Here is one the difficulties of our human race. Power and authority is gained, but seldom given back. Authority is shared in the beginning of an organization's life, but it slowly, often over a number of years or decades, begins to drift upward into the hands of a relatively small few. Resources then seem to do the same. Resources move upward, but increasingly fail to move back down to the lower levels, the entry levels of the organization.

There is seldom any way to correct this up, up, and away syndrome. It must be part of an organization's attitude and DNA from the beginning. Then it must be carefully and forcefully be protected.

Here are some examples.
--The United Sates increasingly is becoming a nation where the federal power and influence is increasing. Resources move toward the top, but seem to have a very hard time finding their way back to the individual citizens who need them.
--In the business world we have seen this through the bank bailouts and automotive bailouts. Money that is given directly to the top has a very tough time making its way down to the typical consumer. When it does it is often rewarding extremely bad behavior on the part of the consumer.
--In some situations the upward flow is not about money or resources, but about power, authority, and responsibility. Jobs, decisions, and authority moves upward to a few who are paid by the organization.

Human nature grabs power and authority, but it seldom releases that power, resources, or authority. The leader that stops the up, up, and away trend will face trouble. They will have to communicate more with those who share responsibility and authority. They will have to settle disputes more carefully. They will not likely be the name that is most popular and famous in historical terms. Fame follows authority, riches, and power. But, they may be the most loved by their peers in their day. Their ideas may have the greatest impact on the earth because they have shared and delegated well. The group name and concept will become global, but the leader may go somewhat unnoticed, unless he dies a grousome death for his followers and rises from the dead!