Vol.5, No. 06 – March 1, 2020
Leadership in a Time of Crisis
Blessed be the Lord your God! Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, He has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness. –2 Chronicles 9:8
Tick . . . tick . . . tick . . .
When the queen of Sheba hit town, her clock started running. She was impressed, astounded with what she saw politically and personally. In her mind, she began to plan. She “wowed” at the strength of Solomon’s gathered power. She was fascinated with his leadership, economic and spiritual. The enormity of his personal income, his accumulated wealth, and the unexpected influence confounded her.
That is what happens in our culture. The characteristics of people who do not have that much are confounded in those who do have success. It is not fair, they say. We need to balance things, create a level playing field. Some people go to Washington to be considered indispensable. A limited few go to Washington to make a difference. Some just want to accumulate power and position; others want to go to Washington to represent those who send them. In time, most in Washington find the accumulation of wealth, power, prestige, and influence more to their liking than doing the will of the people they represent.
Tick . . . tick . . . tick . . .
What is not seen by those seeking power, control, and money is the attitude of the leader’s heart. Sometimes a leader’s heart gets sidetracked, and the leader uses an excuse to get what they want. Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the city of David to the house that he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not live in the house of David king of Israel, for the place to which the ark of the Lord has come is holy.” –2 Chronicles 8:11
It was an inconsistency of relationship – relationship with his wife and the issue of holiness. In the midst of all the outstanding things Solomon had going for him, there was a major area standing outside his commitment to God. That major area was his relationship with women; it was not vested as a part of his holiness before the Lord. The result? Tragedy. When Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father (1 Kings 11:4).
When a leader is not true to their calling, the people fail following their leader. When a leader is true to their calling, the people not only follow their leader; they respond to the One who places that leader before the people. Consider for a moment, ambassadors, administrators, aides, representatives, senators, and judges who do not follow their calling; do not follow the Constitution. Still leaders, just leading people down the wrong paths. Still leaders, but arrogant in performing their duty. Still leaders, just focused upon themselves. It is that “I” thing again.
Life Application
Amazing! All we have to do is allow for one area to be outside of God; one area to be un-yielded to Almighty God, and it will become a fatal flaw to the nation, to her citizens, and individuals before God. Our flaws before God become ticking time bombs. Tick . . . tick . . . tick . . . Can you hear the quiet ticking? There is a great urgency for our nation to repent before our Almighty God.
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. –2 Corinthians 7:1
Leadership in a time of crisis is always available—if we would but ask our Almighty God!
