The responsibility for a leader is heavy. A leader affects not only himself, but everyone in their down line. This is why God gives such strong instructions for those who serve others as leaders.
God knew that Israel would want a king once they entered the Promised Land. Before they crossed the Jordan, He gave instructions about the nature and the character of those who would lead them in Deuteronomy 17.
In the work of God, there are always those who oppose. I have watched countless churches plateau and die because of a man or group of men who fought God's work.
But it is critical for God's leaders to know the source of such opposition. It is always pride that leads to control.
It's a simple sentence, but profoundly telling. It was the reason a young shepherd named David became the greatest King Israel ever knew. It was why God would entrust such responsibility into his hands. And, It's the necessary essential of all great leaders.
And David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel. (2 Samuel 5:12)
It is the common, national pastime to laugh at and ridicule our leaders. To castigate anyone who disagrees with us and seek to destroy them. To exalt their sins and weakness instead of praying for them (as Paul instructed in 1 Timothy 2). Not so with David.
Because David honored others, others honored him, and, most importantly, God honored him also. It would raise the spiritual and emotional temperature of our nation if we would follow the example of this great king and the ultimate King who “when reviled, reviled not again.”
Do you have what it takes? Do you worry about your inadequacy? Do you have an accurate assessment of your life? Have you found the secret of having confidence in any situation?
Many people are clueless about who they really are … perhaps most. One of the great secrets of the Apostle Paul’s success in life and ministry was his accurate understanding of himself, gained at the feet of Christ.
