In what ways can we avoid similar mistakes in our leadership roles? A brief look at 2 Chronicles 25:17 “Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent word to Joash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, ‘Come, let us meet face to face.’ ” Amaziah’s invitation was not a peace summit. It was a proud challenge born of recent military success and stoked by flawed counsel. The verses that follow show the disastrous results: public humiliation, a breached wall, plundered treasures, and eventual assassination. Key missteps that sabotaged Amaziah’s leadership • Allowed recent victory over Edom (25:11-12) to inflate his ego. • Listened to advisers who reinforced pride instead of checking it (25:17). • Ignored the prophet who had already warned him after he brought home Edomite idols (25:14-16). • Picked a fight outside God’s direction, confusing personal ambition with divine mandate. Practical safeguards for today’s leaders • Cultivate habitual humility: deliberately credit every success to the Lord before others hear any self-praise. • Keep a circle of truth-tellers who love God more than they love your approval; empower them to speak plainly. • Filter every strategic decision through prayer and Scripture before announcing it publicly. • Maintain post-victory disciplines—worship, thanksgiving, and accountability—to prevent triumph from morphing into entitlement. • Recognize boundary lines; not every cause, platform, or conflict is yours to tackle. • Respond promptly when Scripture, conscience, or godly counsel exposes sin; delayed obedience still breeds defeat. Scriptural anchors that reinforce these safeguards • Proverbs 16:18—“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” • James 4:6—“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” • Proverbs 11:14—“For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors there is deliverance.” • 1 Corinthians 10:12—“So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.” • Proverbs 3:5-6—“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” A concise heart checklist for leaders □ Am I enjoying God more than I enjoy success? □ Are my counselors both spiritually mature and sufficiently candid? □ Is my next decision traceable to clear biblical principle or self-promotion? □ Have I confessed and forsaken the first signs of idolatry—anything I lean on more than the Lord? Unchecked pride turned Amaziah’s invitation into a national catastrophe; guarded humility turns modern leadership into sustained, God-honoring influence. |
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