Wednesday, June 2
Leadership 101
Scripture: 1 Kings 11-12, Psalm 65, Ephesians 4
1 Kings 12:6–7 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked. 7 They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”
Observation
Leadership 101 stuff here! Representatives of the people come to newly crowned King Rehoboam and ask for relief. “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.” Lighten our load please, and we will happily serve you.
Rehoboam sought advise from his elders and they wisely told him to “be a servant to these people and serve them.” However, Rehoboam also sought advice from his peers who told him the opposite: increase their heavy load, work them harder. Sadly, Rehoboam followed the wrong advice. Rather than serving the people out of genuine concern for their well-being, he thought only of himself: his interests, his wealth and power, his prestige, his identity as king.
And it backfired. Big time! He lost 10 of the 12 tribes and the kingdom split.
Application
Jesus made it clear that good leadership is service.
Mark 10:42–45 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
There is a reason that we call our elected officials and leaders “public servants.” They are not to promote their own selfish interests and welfare, but ours. They are to serve us for the well-being and flourishing of the whole community, not to “be served” for their own gain.
This is true of every leadership role, formal or informal, named or unnamed. Parents serve their children. Pastors serve their people. Bosses serve their employees and customers. We are to use our influence for the good of others, to serve not to be served.
Imagine how Israel’s history would be different if Rehoboam had been a secure leader willing to serve and not be served.
Today, how can you use your influence to serve others and make their lives better? That’s leadership 101.
Prayer: Lord, help us to lead by serving, to set aside our selfish agendas and serve for the good of others. Help us to be like Jesus who came not to be served, but to serve.