Day 162, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): 2Chronicles 12:13-14; 1Kings 14:21; 1Kings 12:1-19; 2Chronicles 10; 1Kings 12:20-24; 2Chronicles 11:1-4; 1Kings 12:25-31; 2Chronicles 11:13-17; 1Kings 12:32-13:34
What Should Motivate Leaders?
Almost every one of us is a leader in some capacity. We may be parents, teachers, supervisors, business owners, pastors, military commanders, politicians, or have organizational responsibilities. What should motivate us? How can we improve our leadership?
Pride shouldn’t Motivate Us
In today’s Bible reading, King Solomon has died, and his son Rehoboam is reigning in his place. One day “the whole assembly of Israel” (1 Kings 12:3) meets with King Rehoboam with their newly reappointed labor leader, Jeroboam. They plea with Rehoboam, “Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you” (1 Kings 12:4, NIV).
Rehoboam consults with his father’s elderly advisors, and they counsel him to listen to the labor leaders. His younger advisors (his peers) counsel King Rehoboam to answer the labor leaders harshly to show them that he is more sovereign than his father. King Rehoboam rejects the advice of the elders and follows the counsel of his friends.
Instead of compassion, this show of brutal strength causes ten of Israel’s twelve tribes to reject him as king. What is our interest in leadership—to show others who is boss or serve in the best interests of those we lead?
Rehoboam intends to suppress the rebellion and force the ten tribes to submit to his rule. He musters 180,000 men to fight Israel, but God stops him and tells him to go home; the division of Israel’s tribes are his doings (1 Kings 12:24, NIV).
Why does God tear Rehoboam’s kingdom in two? The reason for the division is not just poor labor relations. The LORD says,
I will do this because they [King Solomon and Israel] have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Molech the god of the Ammonites, and have not walked in my ways, nor done what is right in my eyes, nor kept my statutes and laws as David, Solomon’s father, did (1 Kings 11:33, NIV).
Because King Solomon allowed his many wives to influence him toward idol worship, he led the entire nation away from the LORD and toward punishment. God used the labor dispute to bring about his judgment on Israel.
We Christians also need to be careful how we lead; obedience to the LORD usually brings his blessings and prosperity, while disobedience brings discipline and consequences.
Positions Shouldn’t Motivate Us
The ten northern tribes of Israel appoint their labor leader, Jeroboam, as their king. God promised Jeroboam a lasting dynasty if he would obey the LORD (1 Kings 11). But what does Jeroboam do when he ascends to the throne? The King of Israel doesn’t trust in God but tries to secure his position on his own. He sets up calf and goat idols and special festival days for worship so the people will not go to Jerusalem as God required. Jeroboam doesn’t want his people to change their loyalties.
Then, King Jeroboam sets up his priests to replace the Levites living among them in their towns. He doesn’t want the Levites to teach the people the law of the LORD and encourage them to worship in Jerusalem. This idolatry becomes what is termed “the sin of Jeroboam.” Instead of leading the Israelites to follow the LORD, he leads them to follow lifeless idols.
How do we act when given positions of authority? Do we act in self-preservation, seeking security for our new work, or do we trust God? Do we lead people in righteousness or serve our interests? As Christian leaders, our strength and confidence should be in God. If we obey the LORD, he can establish our position without politics.
One day, a prophet of the LORD rebukes King Jeroboam for leading the people into idol worship. “When King Jeroboam heard what the man of God cried out against the altar at Bethel, he stretched out his hand from the altar and said, ‘Seize him!’” (1 Kings 13:4, NIV). His hand instantly withered.
How do we handle rebukes? Are we angry when challenged, or do we respond with humility, consider the criticism, and, if necessary, change our ways? What is our interest—our will or God’s will?
After suffering punishment from the LORD, Jeroboam humbles himself and asks the man of God to pray for the healing of his hand. The LORD answers his prayer, but Jeroboam doesn’t learn from the experience.
Obeying the LORD is an Excellent Motivation for Leaders
Jeroboam then invites the man of God to his house to dine with him and receive a gift. However, the prophet had a word from the LORD not to accept any charity but to deliver the message to Jeroboam and then return home by a different route. This mission wasn’t a pleasure trip for the man of God; it had one purpose—to proclaim God’s judgment on Jeroboam.
On the way home, an old prophet of Israel deceives him with a different message “from the LORD.” We’re not sure of the purpose of the prophet’s deception, and perhaps the old prophet is testing the man of God to see if he would follow the LORD’s original revelation.
The man of God is tired and hungry from the journey, and God’s “new” message appeals to him. Because the man of God believes this false prophet and doesn’t follow the original instructions of the LORD, a lion mauls him along the way home and kills him.
Why would God do that? Jesus says that much is required of those to whom much is given (Luke 12:48). Because the man of God was a faithful messenger of the LORD, he needed to be completely trustworthy in carrying out his assignment. Are we listening to God beyond just hearing his words? Are we obeying him?
Are we interested in our comfort and profits, or do we seek to obey God completely? We need to beware of false teachers or believers who distract us or compromise our testimony.
Discussion
What shouldn't be, and what should be our motivation as leaders?
How can we improve our leadership? See how good listening can help.
Focus Verses
Jesus said, ... whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:26-28, NIV).
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Looking Ahead: Jeroboam and Rehoboam need to let God be their Defense. Will they do it? Check out our Next Lesson and find out what happens and how it applies to us.
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