Leaders can make a serious error in judgment and still have a positive impact with the rest of their leadership life. Read 2 Chronicles 11:5-17.

Rehoboam’s leadership is primarily known for a poor decision early in his reign as king of Israel that split the kingdom of Israel into two nations. I don’t think I have ever seen a positive leadership example based on Rehoboam’s life. But even though Rehoboam’s reign as king started poorly, when the entirety of his leadership is viewed, he had some outstanding moments.

A leader’s legacy is remembered several ways. There are those on our team and in future generations that will remember our personal weaknesses, others will remember our successes, and still others will keep memories of our civil or religious achievements. As we enter the book of 1 Chronicles to view leadership principles it is important to know that whereas the books of 1 and 2 Samuel and 1and 2 Kings taught us principles of the personal weaknesses of Israel’s leaders, 1 Chronicles looks at the priestly perspective of David’s reign and stresses that leaders of purpose, vision and integrity leave a lasting legacy. Look through 1 Chronicles 1-9 and search for names you recognize from other Bible accounts.

The first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles furnish a genealogy of Israel’s leaders. The genealogies take up almost a third of the book! The amount of space given the lineages of these Jewish leaders in this God-inspired book, the best seller in all human history and the single most important book in a Christian’s life, gives some indication of the value God puts on family, past tradition, and legacy. There are some things we can learn from this record of Jewish leaders:

Given a choice, most leaders would choose to be effective and have a positive legacy rather than be ineffective and leave a reputation of poor performance. A positive legacy is possible for every leader if they remain humble and teachable. Read 2 Kings 22.

Josiah became king of Judah at age eight, following the murder of his father (2 Kings 21:23-26). Yet, unlike his father, the Bible says Josiah “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or the left.”

A leader’s reputation takes a lifetime to build and just a moment to tarnish. Read 2 Kings 20.

Hezekiah’s overall life legacy is listed in 2 Kings 18:5-7a, “Hezekiah trusted in the Lord God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow Him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook.” What a tremendous legacy for a godly leader.