Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will return to the house of David. If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will return to their lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” So the king consulted, and made two golden calves, and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt.”
1 Kings 12:26-28
Jeroboam protected his provision and position at the expense of a nation’s relationship with God. It’s not the first time this has happened, and it won’t be the last. Many leaders start out strongly, heading straight, but then veer off the path to put their needs above the people they serve. God desires to invest in you, and while much is made about trusting God, can God trust you to stay the course once influence, power, income, and more are put into your hands? Self-serving leadership stinks. Servant leaders know that their position and influence exist to serve others. Self-serving leaders use their position and influence to serve themselves, often at the expense of others. God appointed Jeroboam to rule Israel, but when he sensed his reign slipping away, he turned away from God and led God’s people away from Him. Worship of false gods is not an issue in today’s marketplace; however, leadership that is self-serving is.
What are the signs of a self-serving leader?
- Bad leadership makes decisions for themselves at the expense of the organization.
- Bad leadership sacrifices what is right for what is convenient.
- Bad leadership puts self-interest above the interest of others.
- Bad leadership makes decisions with short-term benefits, knowing they end with long-term consequences.
REFLECT TO CONNECT
- Have you ever worked for a self-serving leader? Explain.
- Is there a balance between serving self and serving others?
- What is your definition of servant leadership?
Much is made about people learning to trust God.
But can God trust you?
