Tho'ts on Leadership, Pt. 2

Reading my Bible this morning (1Kings 12-13), and that brought my mind to more leadership principles to apply to my life as a pastor, father, and husband.  It also brought to mind the same principles that apply to the kings in the section - the kings who followed Solomon.

    Solomon left the kingdom morally and spiritually bankrupt, even though he was the wisest of kings.  God also foretold the division of the kingdom.  This chapter is how it came to pass.

    Every leader takes counsel; but the question is "from whom? - the wise or the foolish?"  Israel was divided through foolish counsel.  Here we learn two things:

1. Leadership that is selfish will fail, but leadership that serves will succeed. - The counsel of the older men was counsel to Rehoboam to be kind, and serve the people and they will love him.  The counsel of the younger men was to raise taxes, exact more service out of the people, and rule with an iron fist.  That incited a rebellion that divided the nation.
2. Wise counsel is often wrapped plainly; but foolish counsel often looks sophisticated.  Leaders do well to study and follow the Scriptures before making decisions so they won't go astray.  But they don't do it because it seems to be "old school" and the younger guys have "new ideas" which may seem right to a man.  But God's plain way has never failed while Satan's trickery has never succeeded.  Sometimes the plain and simple truths are the ways to success.

    So Israel was torn into two separate kingdoms by youthful, foolish counsel.  Chapter 13 shows us that it is not only kings who heard foolish counsel.  Men of God are often persuaded to follow foolish counsel as well.  The prophet who warned Jeroboam against ungodliness was told by God to stay away from the king's table and go God's way.  Another "prophet" caught up to him and changed his mind, costing the first his life, his liberty, and his reputation.  The kings of Israel and Judah (Rehoboam and Jeroboam) were wicked, yes.  But they did not claim to follow the Lord.  But the man of God who does wickedness is far more wicked; for it is to be expected that wicked people do wicked things - but the Godly?  Christian, you have declared to the world that you follow Christ, that you have been cleansed of sin, that you have now God's nature and Spirit leading and living in you.  How can you follow wicked counsel?  Be you in the White House or the house on the corner, you who are Godly must forsake ungodly ways, ungodly counsel, and let the Lord's plain wisdom and guidance be your source of counsel.  You will succeed!