Leadership Exposed
2 Chronicles 10:11
"For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions."
There are two principles of leadership that have been passed down throughout the years. One of the principles of leadership has been highly successful, but sadly it is rarely followed. The other principle of leadership seems to be the prevailing principle followed to the detriment of churches, homes, businesses and nations. The story of Rehoboam acquiring the throne of Israel exposes both principles of leadership.
Rehoboam took over the throne of Solomon after his death. Within a short time of Rehoboam taking the throne, the people came to him and said to him in verse 4, "Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father,..." Rehoboam responded by telling the people he would give them an answer to their request in three days.
During these three days, Rehoboam went to his counselors to ask what he should do. The old men who worked with his father told him to be kind to the people and do what they asked. In other words, they were telling him to serve the people. He then went to the young men with whom he grew up and asked them what to do. They told him to be harsh to the people and tell them that he would be more demanding of a leader than his father. In other words, they were telling Rehoboam that leadership is about the position, and that he must be demanding of the people and make them serve him. Sadly, Rehoboam followed the young men who grew up with him. These young men had never led a nation, but they thought they knew better than the old men who knew what leadership was all about. Israel was divided because Rehoboam followed the wrong model of leadership.
There are many leaders today who follow the wrong model of leadership to the detriment of what they lead. Many pastors make their position about themselves and not about those whom they lead. If you are the pastor of a church, your purpose in pastoring is not about what your people can do for you, but it is about you serving the people. Every pastor who makes his position about himself destroys his church.
Those who hold government leadership roles must understand that the privilege of their position is to serve their constituents. There are too many government officials who have made their position about what they can get out of it, and that is why there is so much corruption in government. If every person who holds a leadership position in government would make his position about serving his constituents, they would find that people would want them to stay in office for a long time.
It doesn't matter what leadership role you have, if you make your role of leadership about the position, then you will harm those whom you lead and the institution or organization that you represent. Whether it be the home, church, business or government institution, every leader should realize that their purpose of holding a leadership role is to serve those whom they lead. Don't ever make leadership about the position, but make leadership about serving the people. If you will make your role of leadership about serving the people, then you will have the privilege of serving them in a leadership role for a long time.