“You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! 
You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet”, David sings. This commission to rule was already given to Adam en Eve at their creation; “Fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
To rule means to govern, to control, to be in charge. What does it mean to be a ruler? What is expected from us?
I think it is not the intent everybody should strive to world domination and I believe it also isn’t the intent we all want to rule our own little kingdoms. Seven billion people ruling over the work of Gods hands can be complicated if we are under the impression that ruling only means giving orders.
We know the expression ‘Noblesse oblige’. ‘Nobility’ comes with responsibilities. I am allowed to rule, things are put under my feet, which means I am also responsible for it.
Most people who go into politics or become leaders in an organisation want to achieve something with that position. They have a purpose, a vision, ideas and plans for improvement. They feel responsible for what they lead. If that can stand the test of criticism is an other matter.
I am allowed to subdue the earth and rule over the animals. This means I am responsible for it. I am responsible for my own garden and my own cat, but also for the entire earth and all living creatures. This is also known as ‘stewardship’.
I can’t determine what other people do, – we didn’t get the order to rule over one another, but I can determine what I do myself and how I am going to do it.
What are my plans for myself, the earth and the animals? How would I want to improve things?
As a ruler I can realize my own good ideas applying the motto: Improve the world, and begin with yourself.
“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.”
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