Reflections on Leadership from 2 Chronicles
This summer, my devotional reading has been in 1 and 2 Chronicles. After making it through the first twelve chapters of 1 Chronicles – as you may remember, the vast majority of this material is lists of names – I have been reading and listening to the stories of the leaders of God’s people, starting with David.
You may also remember that these stories in 1 and 2 Chronicles largely mirror what is in 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, and 2 Kings, so some of the material is quite familiar. However, as so often happens when encountering Scripture, even familiar stories can strike one in a new way. That is definitely what has happened to me as I have been reading these books. I’d like to chronicle three of my reflections from the middle of 2 Chronicles (see what I did there?), in the hopes that they may spark thoughts on your part. Feel free to leave your reactions in the comments below!
1. Sometimes leaders have money.
These days, there is a lot of discourse on social media and otherwise about the wealth of our political leaders. I find that, rather often, our attitudes toward a leader’s wealth is correlated with our opinion of that particular leader aside from their wealth. In other words, if I’m generally in favor of a leader, I’m more likely to overlook their practices with money; however, if I am not in favor of that leader, I’m more likely to criticize them in this area. And yet, the story of Solomon’s wealth in 2 Chronicles 9 reminds me that leaders will often have money. Sometimes they actively seek it in legal ways (e.g., through business); other times it accrues to them indirectly; and still other times, they seek it in nefarious ways (like bribes or other corrupt practices).
As Christians, we can struggle with this, since our Lord Jesus did not have money himself, and I do think it is appropriate for us to ask questions about how our leaders get their money, especially if there is any suspicion of dirty dealing. However, the stories in the historical books suggest that it may be even more important what leaders do with their money than the fact that they have it in the first place. There’s the tension of Solomon building a house for the Lord and also a house for himself, and we also see Judah’s leaders using money to wage war when the Lord is not in it. This is also true of us, of course. When we are in leadership positions, it matters deeply how we spend our money and that of our ministries or churches. This is an area where we want to walk in extreme integrity, even if other leaders we see do not do so.
2. Sometimes religious leaders need to be bold in speaking truth, even if it puts them in danger.
This is a concept that we are familiar with, especially in the wake and legacy of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. And yet, it is always easy to live in fear, wondering what will happen if we say what is truly on our hearts, and/or what we truly think is right. I have some people-pleasing tendencies, so I feel this keenly! But the stories of Shemaiah in 1 Chronicles 11-12 convict me that I need to be willing to speak up when God prompts me, whether it is about the activities of our political leaders (as in the previous item) or some other matter. In 11:3-4, Shemaiah tells the king’s fighting men to go back home rather than pursue the king’s military purposes. Surely this put his life in danger – and yet he spoke up, and the fighting men obeyed! Then, in the next chapter (12:5), Shemaiah reported God’s judgment to King Rehoboam and the other leaders when they had fallen away from the Lord. After Shemaiah reported that God was abandoning them to their Egyptian foes, the king and other leaders did not execute the prophet but rather humbled themselves and returned to the Lord.
We know that sometimes, as ministers or church leaders, it can be very unpopular to speak what we believe to be true. It makes us vulnerable, and it can make others uncomfortable – both of which can be quite difficult for leaders. There is no question that this requires great discernment and prayer on our part, but the good news is that we believe that God gives wisdom to those who ask (James 1:5). And when it does come time to speak, may these stories of Shemaiah give us all greater courage, believing that God is also working on the hearts of those willing to listen to him!
3. Sometimes support comes from unexpected places.
In 2 Chronicles 11:5-17, there is a brief story that is not paralleled in 1 Kings. In the story, priests and Levites from the northern kingdom come to Judah and Jerusalem to support the work that Rehoboam was doing for the people of God. In verse 14, the text says, “The Levites even abandoned their pasturelands and property, and came to Judah and Jerusalem because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the Lord.” When leaders engage with difficult topics (as in item #1, or disputed matters of church life), or when they speak boldly for God (as in item #2), there can be real fear of losing support in their ministry contexts, which might lead to losing a job or position. This fear of what might happen, as well as past experiences or stories of what has happened to us or others, means that we struggle to do these things in the first place! And yet, it is also true that we often find support in these moments, but maybe not in the places we expect.
Sometimes quieter members of our congregations emerge from the woodwork, letting us know that they are on our “side.” Sometimes individuals are drawn to our ministry work, having heard or seen that boldness in us. Sometimes people who do not agree with us are willing to stand up for us – not because they agree, but because they respect our integrity and consistency of action. These Levites and priests from the northern kingdom “strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam,” and individuals like the ones I’ve described can strengthen us, too.
Perhaps these reflections connect with you in your current situation. Perhaps they resonate with a place you have been in the past, or with one you anticipate in the future. Regardless of your situation, I hope that they have been thought-provoking to you. More than that, I hope that they spur you (and me) to dig ever deeper into the Scriptures. God speaks to us in a variety of ways, but for many of us, we are most familiar with the sound of God’s voice as it comes in the text of the Bible. May we all listen more closely, and may God give us ears to hear as we read the Word!
