The Measure of Greatness

As everything in our society is seemingly shaken to its core, we are finding out the truth about many who were believed to be "great men." From powerful politicians to well-to-do financiers, from the financial titans of Wall Street to the titans of the auto industry in Detroit the measure of all men is being taken. They're being exposed. And they are being found lacking.

Abimelech was one of Israel's leaders during the time of the judges. The Bible says he ruled over Israel for three years. During his reign, it looked like Abimelech was a great success. He maneuvered his way to power and defended his throne with stunning success. He exhibited strong leadership characteristics. Everything seemed to go his way. Despite his success, there was one thing that was always against him: God.

God was against Abimelech because of the way he achieved his successes. He used and abused, and even murdered to get where he was. He schemed to gain power, and schemed even harder to keep it. And God was not pleased. In fact, God brought about the end of Abimelech in a shocking way. The Bible says a woman dropped a millstone from the top of a roof onto his head and crushed his skull.
He wasn't killed by a mighty warrior or a skilled soldier in the line of duty. He was killed by a woman with a millstone and an attitude. Indeed, it was God who repaid the wickedness of this seemingly great man.

The story has always been the same. If God is not pleased, if He does not approve of our lives, all of our "success" is destined to fail. We may have the approval of those around us. We may even have some proclaiming us to be great.
But the only opinion that matters is God's.