It is possible for a leader to have most areas of their leadership life squared away, be successful in virtually everything they touch and still have one area continually out of control. Wise leaders understand that even allowing one area to be out of control will influence their legacy. Read 2 Chronicles 17-20.

King Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he became king of Judah and reigned in Jerusalem for 25 years. For the most part Jehoshaphat was an outstanding godly leader. Second Chronicles tells us that Jehoshaphat sought the Lord in virtually all areas of his life, had great wealth and honor, became more and more powerful and even the arch enemy of Judah, the Philistines, brought Jehoshaphat gifts and were at peace with him. Read more »

President Harry Truman made a famous statement that indicated the buck stopped at his desk. He was ultimately responsible for the decisions of both the military and civilian leaders that surrounded his presidency. Responsibility is the ability to meet obligations; the act of being accountable; a duty of trust. A leader can share responsibility and a wise leader will delegate responsibility and authority for areas assigned to other leaders but the ultimate responsibility for results cannot be given away. Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-25.

Jehoshaphat had assumed the responsibilities of king of Judah. He had sent leaders to teach the people from the Book of the Law and had appointed some trusted leaders to administer the law and settle disputes. Just as Jehoshaphat was finishing his reforms to strengthen Judah’s internal governing structure, Judah was threatened by an army made up of a three nation alliance. Reports of this huge army’s activities and advance frightened Jehoshaphat. 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 »

When a leader has the wrong decision at the wrong time, it will equal a disaster. When a leader has the wrong decision at the right time, it will equal a mistake. When a leader has the right decision at the wrong time, it will look like an error in judgment. When a leader has the right decision at the right time, it will equal a success. Read 2 Chronicles 13:4-18.

Abijah replaced his father Rehoboam as king of Judah in the eighteenth year of the split kingdom. Jeroboam, king of the northern ten tribes quickly declared war on Judah hoping to exploit the new king and gain the rich southern part of Israel. Read more »

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. Read more »