When leaders fail to practice servant leadership they will become self-serving and the organization can become a very unpleasant place to work. Read Micah 7:1-7.

The people of Israel were in dire straights. They could not trust a neighbor, put confidence in a friend or even trust their own family members. The root of the problem is identified as corrupt leaders when in verse three it says, “…the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire – they all conspire together.” There was self-centered leadership who worked for personal gain, kickbacks and bribes. They forced the people to serve them rather than them serving the people.

It is the leader’s responsibility to create an environment of humility, justice, fairness, and mercy that makes it safe for the team. Read Micah 6:1-8.

Micah lays out the charges against Israel’s leaders in verses 1-7 and gives the people permission to plead their case for innocence. God gave the people every break and helped them in their times of need yet they chose to ignore Him and follow their own desires. They had a form of religion with the rituals they practiced but their hearts were distant from God. In verse eight Micah tells the people what God expects of them, especially the leaders.

Leaders succeed as they find ways to successfully communicate their organization’s vision. Micah 4:1-5.

Micah not only announced judgment on the Jewish people but also brought a message of hope concerning God’s plan for the future. Micah proclaimed a vision of a better day. People could get excited about the message because during the last days the “house of the Lord” would be a strategic, influential, equipping place. The Lord’s temple would be established and Jerusalem would be chief among all the cities. Because God gave Micah His words, he was equally as effective communicating vision for a positive future as he had been proclaiming judgment.

God-honoring leadership demands that the leader have God-honoring character. Read Micah 2:1-13.

The leaders in Israel were very prosperous but were condemned by God because they were self-centered and self-serving. Day and night they considered how to get personal gain at the expense of those who could not defend themselves against their onslaught of legal maneuvers and fraudulent actions. They knew God’s commands concerning protecting the poor and oppressed but they determined it was not to their advantage to follow God-established principles in their leadership. Their defective character brought God’s judgment on the entire nation.

God-honoring leaders place extreme importance on values in long-range planning. Read Micah 2:1-5.

Micah shows us what it looks like when leaders eliminate godly values when making plans for the future. He paints a picture of leaders who plan evil and carry it out “because they have the power to do it.” Israel’s leaders forced their plans on the poor and oppressed who were unable to stop them. The government, religious, and business leaders were defrauding them of their homes and inheritance. Through Micah God gave a stern warning that He would thwart the schemes of those who plan and plot evil for their own gain.