Servant leadership

And they spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever." – 1 Kings 12v7

Solomon was dead. The United Kingdom of Israel and Judah had been around for 120 years. Saul, David, and Solomon had each reigned for forty years. There is no reason to doubt that the same would not be true for the new king, Rehoboam.

Once he was king he did what any young man should do – he sought advice. First he went to the old me, those who had worked with King Solomon. Their first advice was to lighten the load that Solomon had placed on the people. But, the said, come back in three days and we will give you our suggestions.

When Rehoboam came back they gave their counsel. ‘The best way to lead the people is to be their servant. If you do that they will serve you forever.’

This advice flies in the face of many in leadership. The leader is the boss. He is in charge. The people need to follow and serve him. He is the leader. He has leader stuff he has to do. He doesn’t have time to serve others.

Any yet these wise men told Rehoboam to lead by serving.

Sadly, this kind of leadership is rare, even in the church. Instead of servant leadership we too often see authority leadership or even tyrant leadership. God’s word talks about leaders being meek and humble and loving and slow to fight and, well, serving.

These old guys had it right. True leadership starts with service.

What will we do with this advice? What would Rehoboam do?