Leadership is a two-edged sword. How it goes with leadership is how it goes with those leadership serves.
"In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel at Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel sin; he did not turn from them ... Nevertheless they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel sin, but walked in them; and the Asherah also remained standing in Samaria." (2 Kings 13:1-2,6)
The legacy of a ruler named Jeroboam was his sinful and evil influence. Succeeding kings followed his evil ways and influenced the people of Israel to do the same. As the old saying goes, like leader, like people.
Much can be determined about a culture by examining its leaders and models. Who do young people emulate? Who do adults respect and admire? Their values and priorities are those of the culture that reveres them.
The record of Judah and Israel's kings, recorded in 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles, reveal how abruptly things change from one generation to the next. Of one king it is written, "he did right in the sight of the LORD", and then of his successor it is all too often written, "he did evil in the sight of the LORD". The pendulum abruptly swings away from the spiritual gains of one generation to spiritual degradation in the next.
So, the lessons of biblical and secular history are this: be careful who you follow. Charismatic and persuasive leaders exist in every generation, and have the ability to sway individuals and the masses. Wise are the people who scrutinize both the teachings and lifestyle of those who aspire to lead. Humility and a genuine servant heart must characterize those who would lead; especially those who would exert spiritual influence.
We choose who and what we follow. Persuasive leaders exert influence over those decisions, but ultimately we allow or choose to follow. For this reason, these words of the apostle Paul are important watch words for each of us: "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)
May it be recorded of this generation that we "did right in the sight of the LORD",
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
"In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel at Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. He did evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel sin; he did not turn from them ... Nevertheless they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel sin, but walked in them; and the Asherah also remained standing in Samaria." (2 Kings 13:1-2,6)
The legacy of a ruler named Jeroboam was his sinful and evil influence. Succeeding kings followed his evil ways and influenced the people of Israel to do the same. As the old saying goes, like leader, like people.
Much can be determined about a culture by examining its leaders and models. Who do young people emulate? Who do adults respect and admire? Their values and priorities are those of the culture that reveres them.
The record of Judah and Israel's kings, recorded in 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles, reveal how abruptly things change from one generation to the next. Of one king it is written, "he did right in the sight of the LORD", and then of his successor it is all too often written, "he did evil in the sight of the LORD". The pendulum abruptly swings away from the spiritual gains of one generation to spiritual degradation in the next.
So, the lessons of biblical and secular history are this: be careful who you follow. Charismatic and persuasive leaders exist in every generation, and have the ability to sway individuals and the masses. Wise are the people who scrutinize both the teachings and lifestyle of those who aspire to lead. Humility and a genuine servant heart must characterize those who would lead; especially those who would exert spiritual influence.
We choose who and what we follow. Persuasive leaders exert influence over those decisions, but ultimately we allow or choose to follow. For this reason, these words of the apostle Paul are important watch words for each of us: "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)
May it be recorded of this generation that we "did right in the sight of the LORD",
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2011
posted by steve @ 9:03 AM
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