Key Passage: 1 Kings 12: 6 - 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?” And they spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” But he rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.

The secret of becoming a great leader is being a servant of the people. When a leader serves his people faithfully, he receives willful followership in return, and that is what makes leadership most effective.

King Rehoboam had a great opportunity to consolidate his reign as the king of the united kingdom of Israel, but he wasted it. His father Solomon was wise, but ruled the people with iron hand. When Rehoboam was to ascend the throne, the elders who sat with his father and saw the anguish and pain with which the people served, counseled him to lighten the burden on the people. He despised their counsel and preferred the counsel of his peers who advised him to threaten the people. That made the people to rebel against his authority and break away from his kingdom.

It is sad to note that many leaders today see themselves as demigods, corrupt their positions of authority and oppress the people they are meant to lead. Little wonder the multifaceted leadership problems we have in our societies. A leader should recognize that power belongs to God, and that the people he is leading are God's creation, made in God's image, and who deserve dignity, care and mercy (Lev 25:43). He should see himself as God's instrument to lead the people to their desired dreams.

The disciples of Jesus had it all wrong when they quarreled over position and authority. Jesus was quick to give them this age-long wisdom: “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mk 10:42-45 NLT. Jesus devoted his whole life on the earth loving, caring for and meeting the needs of mankind by the power of God (Act 10:38). He made the ultimate sacrifice for the salvation of mankind.

Pray: Almighty God, teach me to serve and not to oppress the people under me; grant me the wisdom, courage and grace to lead like Jesus did.

 

Written by – Evangelist Oguazi Onyemobi