Knowing which alliances to make and which to stay away from will have a tremendous impact on a leader’s success. Read John 7:14-32.

Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles, one of the religious feasts held each year to commemorate a great work of God. As Jesus was teaching in the temple the religious leaders were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having studied?” Jesus’ answer indicated He received His knowledge from God and that set off a firestorm that ended with people trying to seize Him and arrest Him. Jesus knew which alliances to build and which to oppose. He consistently gathered around Him sinners whose hearts were ready to change and consistently stood against the legalistic practices of the religious 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.”

Leaders must be teachable and surround themselves with individuals who are not afraid to give them counsel even when they are not in the mood to receive it. When they do, God is honored. Read 2 Kings 5:1-15.

Naaman was an outstanding military leader and had won the favor and respect of his king and commander in chief. Yet for all his strength and influence, Naaman suffered from the disease of leprosy. When Naaman learned of a Hebrew prophet named Elisha who might be able to help him, he requested and received permission from the king to contact Elisha concerning a miracle healing. Based on his position and his later reaction, his expectations were of some grand healing in the courts of a great man.

There is hope for every leader with a teachable nature and little hope for any leader that has a self-centered, undisciplined, arrogant, unteachable nature. Read Judges 14-16.

There are several leadership principles we can learn from Samson’s unteachability: