Topic: TRUE ESSENCE OF LEADERSHIP
Text: 1 Kings 12:1-15
12:1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king.
12:2 So it happened, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it (he was still in Egypt, for he had fled from the presence of King Solomon and had been dwelling in Egypt),
12:3 that they sent and called him. Then Jeroboam and the whole assembly of Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying,
12:4 Your father made our yoke [a]heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.”
12:5 So he said to them, “Depart for three days, then come back to me.” And the people departed.
12:6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, and he said, “How do you advise me to answer these people?”
12:7 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, and he said, “How do you advise me to answer these people?”
12:8 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, and he said, “How do you advise me to answer these people?”
12:9 And he said to them, “What advice do you give? How should we answer this people who have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on us’?
12:10 Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist!
12:11 And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with [b]scourges!’ ”
12:12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had directed, saying, “Come back to me the third day.”
12:13 Then the king answered the people [c]roughly, and rejected the advice which the elders had given him;
12:14 and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with [d]scourges!
12:15 So the king did not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from the Lord, that He might fulfill His word, which the Lord had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
STUDY:
Leadership is service and true leadership must lighten the burden of people. Leadership is a gift of God, for the blessing of humanity. Today’s story teaches us the danger of losing the true essence of leadership. Leadership in the kingdom of God is not about lording over people but serving them—helping them to discover and deploy their potentials (Matt. 18:1-4). True leadership brings men into their rest (maximised potentials and destinies).
Although the ‘drama’ in this passage was in keeping with God’s plans and judgement, we see an important lesson on leadership to glean.
Presently, Nigeria seems to be under a leadership that has subjected citizens to increased harsh economic realities. This is in the midst of the huge blessings—natural, spiritual and human resources—of the nation. The reason for under-development in Africa remains poor leadership. And unfortunately for the church today, the true essence of leadership is gradually being killed. The church must rise to the occasion to follow the path of true leadership, which is service. John Maxwell once observed that if you are ‘leading’ and no one is following, then you are simply “taking a walk.” Lead, don’t just walk.
Prayer:
Father, help me see the true essence of leadership.
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