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.

Leaders can chart their course toward success but it is God who is the source of their success. Read Obadiah 2-4

The nation of ancient Edom was an economically stable nation that drew much of its livelihood from the caravan trade between Egypt, the Mediterranean and southern Arabia. Edom also traded as far away as India and exported salt and balsam (used for perfume and temple incense in the ancient world) from the Dead-Sea region. In addition to their economic wealth Edom was located geographically so that they were hard to invade militarily.

The leaders who exert power but refuse to serve hurt themselves, their organization, and their team. Read Ecclesiastes 8:9.

The self-centered, self-serving leader is so common that virtually everyone has experienced the negative conditions they create in the workplace or in their family. The reason the problem is so pervasive is every one of us carry in us some of the desires that drive the self-serving leader.

It is perfectly natural for a leader to enjoy using their gifts and even enjoy the role of being in charge. The issue comes when it goes to their head. Read Proverbs 25:27.

Most individuals with the talent and skill to lead enjoy using the skills of a leader i.e. making decisions, delegating, organization, implementation, etc. When a leader is effective in the application of their skills, some form of privilege usually accompanies their leadership. Solomon’s advice to leaders in verse 27 is to not let success and the perks that go with it create a prideful ego or a self-centered outlook on life.

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: