How can leaders today avoid being "senseless" as in Jeremiah 10:21? Setting the Scene: Jeremiah’s Warning “For the shepherds have become senseless; they do not seek the LORD. Therefore they do not prosper, and all their flock is scattered.” (Jeremiah 10:21) What Made the Shepherds Senseless? • They stopped seeking the LORD—leadership detached from divine guidance • They lost discernment—“senseless” (Hebrew: ba‛ar) carries the idea of brutish ignorance • Their people suffered—scattered, vulnerable, spiritually malnourished • They forfeited God-given prosperity—plans, resources, and protection dried up Timeless Principles for Today’s Leaders 1. Seek God first and continually “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6) 2. Feed on Scripture before feeding others “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) 3. Shepherd, don’t exploit “Shepherd the flock of God among you…not lording it over those entrusted to you.” (1 Peter 5:2-3) 4. Embrace servant leadership “Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.” (Matthew 20:26) 5. Remain accountable “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22) 6. Depend on the Spirit, not human savvy “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6) Practices that Keep a Leader Seeking the LORD • Daily, unhurried time in Word and prayer—Acts 6:4 • Regular fasting to recalibrate appetites toward God • Scripture-saturated decision-making; filter every initiative through passages like Proverbs 3:5-6 • Listening retreats—periodic withdrawal for silence and reflection (Mark 1:35) • Memorizing and meditating on key shepherding texts (e.g., John 10, Psalm 23) Safeguards Against Drift • Plural leadership teams to share weight and curb ego • Transparent financial and moral accountability structures • Welcoming prophetic voices; encourage godly colleagues to speak hard truths (Galatians 2:11-14) • Consistent evaluation: “Is this ministry still making disciples?” (Matthew 28:19-20) • Guarding personal holiness—“Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching.” (1 Timothy 4:16) The Promise of Fruitful Leadership “Abide in Me, and I in you…he who abides in Me and I in him bears much fruit.” (John 15:4-5) When leaders stay rooted in the Lord, they gain wisdom, their people flourish, and God receives glory. Staying senseless is optional; seeking the LORD is the sure path to prosperous, scatter-proof leadership. |
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