How can we ensure our leadership aligns with God's will, avoiding Jeroboam's mistakes? The Sobering Legacy of Jeroboam “ ‘He will give Israel over on account of the sins Jeroboam has committed and has caused Israel to commit.’ ” (1 Kings 14:16) Jeroboam’s Missteps in Plain Sight • Feared losing control; built alternative worship centers at Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:26-30) • Manufactured golden calves, breaking the first two commandments (Exodus 20:3-4) • Rejected prophetic correction from Ahijah (1 Kings 14:7-9) • Appointed priests from any tribe for convenience, ignoring God’s Levitical order (1 Kings 13:33) • Led Israel into generational sin; his choices became the nation’s norm (1 Kings 15:34) Anchoring Leadership to God’s Word • Center every decision on Scripture. Deuteronomy 17:18-20 commands kings to copy the Law “so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God … and not turn aside from the command.” • Let God’s instruction shape strategy, not cultural pressure (Romans 12:2). • Teach the whole counsel of God; partial truth breeds compromise (Acts 20:27). Cultivating Fear-of-the-Lord Courage • Lead by faith, not fear. “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). • Trust God’s promise of a lasting house to the obedient (1 Kings 11:38). • Resist shortcuts that appease people but offend God (Galatians 1:10). Guarding Personal Integrity • Keep watch over your heart, “for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23). • Maintain accountability: prophets confronted kings; wise leaders invite correction (Proverbs 27:6). • Model humility—Jesus washes feet, not egos (John 13:14-15). Protecting Pure Worship • Avoid man-made substitutes: golden calves may look convenient, yet displace God’s presence. • Prioritize gathered worship that exalts Christ alone (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Train teams to discern truth from trend (Colossians 2:8). Raising Leaders Who Follow the Shepherd • Select servants known for Spirit-filled wisdom (Acts 6:3). • Equip emerging leaders to shepherd, not dominate (1 Peter 5:2-3). • Pass on a legacy of obedience so the next generation does not inherit our idols (Psalm 78:5-7). Living the Better Way Forward Jeroboam teaches what happens when fear eclipses faith. Align leadership with God’s will by saturating life in Scripture, standing in reverent awe of the Lord, and guiding people to worship Him alone. In doing so, we exchange Jeroboam’s ruin for a kingdom that endures. |
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