Lessons for Leaders…and Followers
Originally posted at: http://missionsbloging.blogspot.com/2018/03/lessons-for-leadersand-followers.html
Mar
5
5
Whoever has said that the Old Testament is
no longer relevant to Christians today has not read Kings and Chronicles!
Looking just at the lives of Solomon, Rehoboam, and Jeroboam, one can see how
leaders today still make the same disastrous mistakes even though they have the
advantage of, not only the Scriptures, but also of history.
While Solomon starts his reign on the
right foot, asking for wisdom rather than any other desirable thing, he ends his reign by forsaking God’s wisdom and following the political practice of the
day, namely allying oneself to other nations through marriage…in this case
multiple marriages…unequally yoked marriages.
right foot, asking for wisdom rather than any other desirable thing, he ends his reign by forsaking God’s wisdom and following the political practice of the
day, namely allying oneself to other nations through marriage…in this case
multiple marriages…unequally yoked marriages.
Rehoboam, his son, does not even consult God in matters of the State and he disregards the counsel of those who had learned
wisdom through the observation of the consequences of Solomon’s bad choices.
Rather he seeks advice and direction from those as ignorant as himself in
matters of government…his wet behind the ears peers! When world leaders (or
church leaders for that matter) seek to curry favour with others for whatever
reasons…whether to gain their applause or their votes or their money…they
embark on a journey that will ultimately lead to division or destruction, even
of that which they seek to build or maintain.
wisdom through the observation of the consequences of Solomon’s bad choices.
Rather he seeks advice and direction from those as ignorant as himself in
matters of government…his wet behind the ears peers! When world leaders (or
church leaders for that matter) seek to curry favour with others for whatever
reasons…whether to gain their applause or their votes or their money…they
embark on a journey that will ultimately lead to division or destruction, even
of that which they seek to build or maintain.
And Jeroboam! One would have thought that
if ever there was a man who would have learned valuable lessons from watching
the folly of his leaders, it would be him! Oppressed and exiled by a jealous
leader, rebuffed by an immature and arrogant and insecure leader, told by a
prophet that he would lead in their stead because of their collective lack of godly
wisdom…one would think that he would seek to govern in a way that would bring
unity and would foster humility and righteousness and justice…but instead he
stumbles even further away from that which would bring peace and stability and
prosperity to the people!
if ever there was a man who would have learned valuable lessons from watching
the folly of his leaders, it would be him! Oppressed and exiled by a jealous
leader, rebuffed by an immature and arrogant and insecure leader, told by a
prophet that he would lead in their stead because of their collective lack of godly
wisdom…one would think that he would seek to govern in a way that would bring
unity and would foster humility and righteousness and justice…but instead he
stumbles even further away from that which would bring peace and stability and
prosperity to the people!
Surely our leaders in both the political
and the spiritual sphere ought to read Chronicles and Kings! If they refuse to
learn from Scripture or from history…if they turn a blind eye to the consequences of bad
decisions – and they are not hard to find, in fact just a border crossing away…they
will surely follow in the footsteps of countless others who have chosen to lead their
own people into the abyss of ruin and poverty.
and the spiritual sphere ought to read Chronicles and Kings! If they refuse to
learn from Scripture or from history…if they turn a blind eye to the consequences of bad
decisions – and they are not hard to find, in fact just a border crossing away…they
will surely follow in the footsteps of countless others who have chosen to lead their
own people into the abyss of ruin and poverty.
Why is it always so difficult to bend the
knee and to seek what is good to the Holy Spirit? Is it pride? Is it stupidity?
Is it sin? Are our leaders blind? Compromise leads only to more compromise.
Where is the backbone? Where is the wisdom? Where is the bravery and the boldness needed to stand when all others fall?
knee and to seek what is good to the Holy Spirit? Is it pride? Is it stupidity?
Is it sin? Are our leaders blind? Compromise leads only to more compromise.
Where is the backbone? Where is the wisdom? Where is the bravery and the boldness needed to stand when all others fall?
But then, dear brothers and sisters in Christ…where are we? Are we praying for
our leaders as we are instructed to in the Holy Scriptures? Really praying
for them? Or are we just pointing fingers? Are we lifting them up daily – hourly – to the throne of the King of kings and the Lord
of lords? Asking God to grant them true repentance and His Holy Spirit as Guide
– or, indeed, asking God to remove them and replace them with those who will learn to listen? Does He not say that He holds the hearts of leaders in His hands?
our leaders as we are instructed to in the Holy Scriptures? Really praying
for them? Or are we just pointing fingers? Are we lifting them up daily – hourly – to the throne of the King of kings and the Lord
of lords? Asking God to grant them true repentance and His Holy Spirit as Guide
– or, indeed, asking God to remove them and replace them with those who will learn to listen? Does He not say that He holds the hearts of leaders in His hands?
Perhaps we receive what we deserve…perhaps our hands are not as lily white as
we like to believe…
we like to believe…