The Bible has some examples of pure evil leaders. Their value system is such that they can justify any act to put themselves in a position of self-serving power. Read 2 Chronicles 22-23:15.

Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, the God-fearing king of Judah, had married Athaliah, daughter of Ahab, the Baal worshiping, power lusting king of Israel through an arranged marriage. When Jehoram died, his son Ahaziah ruled but only for one year before he was murdered. When the Queen Mother discovered her son was dead, she saw her opportunity and grabbed power to rule Judah by killing all the male heirs that could have assumed the throne, including all her grandchildren. One infant, Joash, who later became king miraculously escaped but that is another day’s study. Athaliah’s value system was dominated by the lust for power. In The Maxwell Leadership Bible, John Maxwell discusses Pursuing Power Rather Than Love: Read more »

My mom had a thousand one-line sayings that have stuck with me over the years. One of them that I remember from about age 13 was, “You can pick your nose and you can pick your friends, but choose your friends carefully because you can’t pick your friend’s nose.” My mom had a memorable way of telling a 13-year-old that I had the ability to eliminate items from my person that were a problem or irritating but if my friend had a life issue, I would not be able to change them and it might influence me for life. The book of Proverbs says the same thing for adults, “A mirror reflects a man’s face but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses” Proverbs 27:19 (tlb). Wise leaders understand that positive or negative relationships will shape their leadership. Read 2 Chronicles 21.

Jehoshaphat is known as a godly king even with the weakness he displayed for unhealthy alliances. When he died his son Jehoram assumed the throne. Jehoram was one of the people directly affected by one of Jehoshaphat’s unhealthy alliances. Jehoram had an arranged marriage to Athaliah, King Ahab of Israel’s daughter. Ahab was one of the most evil kings ever to reign the Jewish people of the northern kingdom. Jehoram’s life shows the influence Athaliah had on his core values. Read more »

Some reading this leadership study began influencing people in their teen years and now have decades of leadership experience. God gifted us with experience and expects us to use that experience to become the best leader we can be and thereby bring honor to His name. Generally with experience comes stronger, more well rounded leadership and fewer mistakes, but there is a danger for the Christian leader that comes with experience—when we become leadership professionals, we tend to rely on our own knowledge, wisdom and experience rather than continuing to look for a fresh touch from God in our daily leadership life. Read 2 Chronicles 14-16.

Early in the leadership life of King Asa of Judah, Asa used his God-given abilities and position to influence the people of Judah to follow the Lord and trust Him. He served his subjects by fortifying their towns and protecting them with a strong military force. God honored his prayers of dependence by giving him victory when his army was outnumbered and, from every human standpoint, should have been defeated by a vast Cushite army. Asa led reformations for God in the Southern kingdom of Judah in such a way that his influence spread beyond his own borders and many individuals living in the northern kingdom, under totally different leadership, were impacted and entered into a renewed covenant with the one true God. Read more »

It seems a little dramatic but there are times when God blesses a leader to bless an entire nation. Read 2 Chronicles 9:1-23.

John Maxwell discusses the extended blessing of an individual to a nation in his leadership notes in The Maxwell Leadership Bible.

Before he careened off course in his later years, Solomon began to fulfill God’s dream of blessing the nations through the nation of Israel. When leaders from the surrounding countries heard of his great wisdom, they hopped aboard their camels and made the long trek to Jerusalem to see whether the reports could be trusted. The Queen of Sheba spoke for these wide-eyed visitors when she said, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on His throne to be king for the Lord your God!” Read more »

John Maxwell speaks often in his writings of 360 degree leadership. Leaders lead no matter where they are on the organizational chart. Read 1 Chronicles 11:1-3.

Saul, the king of Israel, and his sons had been killed in battle with the Philistine army. The people of Israel, knowing that David had been anointed the next king long before Saul’s death, came together and appointed him king of Israel. As the most influential man in the country, David was leading long before Saul’s death and long before the people appointed him king. David was a leader long before he had position or a title. Read more »