As we enter the study of some specific leadership principles tucked away in 2 Chronicles, it is helpful to get an overview of the book. This being the fourth book (1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles) detailing the actions of many of the same individuals, it is helpful for understanding the leadership lessons to know the major theme God is seeking to communicate in the book. John Maxwell in The Maxwell Leadership Bible gives summary notes at the beginning of the book that are very helpful.

Summary

If 2 Chronicles develops one major theme or offers one major lesson, it is this: Leaders need to finish well.

A Christian leader’s life is evaluated not only by how they start but by how they finish. Read 2 Kings 9:1-10:36.

Jehu was a man with a mission. Jehu led brilliantly in fulfilling God’s commands. No sooner was he anointed king than he gathered his troops and set out to obey God’s command (9:7). Quickly and efficiently he embraced divine instructions to destroy the house of Ahab and the worship of Baal. He even laid waste to Baal’s temple and everything in it. The Bible tells us that God commended Jehu for carrying out His mission.

In the last few weeks we have looked at two Judges who started strong and failed at the finish. Read Judges 6:11-8:32 & 14:1-16:27.

Two of the most famous judges were Gideon and Samson. Both men had a good start but finished poorly. It is not just these two leaders; two thirds of the biblical leaders finished poorly. My personal experience is this two thirds rate of leaders finishing poorly is still true today. Why do so few Christian leaders finish well: