We Need Leaders, Not Kings
“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes”
– Psalm 118:9.
God is a leadership God. He works through leaders but the tendency of mankind has been to put expectations on leaders that should only be put on the Lord. This has led time and again to the glorification and deification of leaders, and that always gets people in trouble – for leaders are mortal and will eventually pass from the scene, no matter how effective or evil they are. Israel craved a leader, a king like the rest of the nations had, and it got them into trouble when they put the leader before their allegiance to God. Samuel had this to say to Israel when they demanded a king:
“But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, ‘No, appoint a king over us'”
– (1 Samuel 10:19).
As a follower, are you putting too much trust in leaders, expecting them to do what only the Lord can do for you? As a leader, are you demanding more loyalty and commitment than is appropriate? You should pray for your leaders, submit to your leaders, but reserve your ultimate trust and loyalty for the Lord!
Today’s reading – Psalms 116-120
John Stanko was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended Duquesne University where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics in 1972 and 1974 respectively.
Since then, John has served as an administrator, teacher, consultant, author, and pastor in his professional career. He holds a second master’s degree in pastoral ministries, and earned his Doctor of Ministry from Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh in 2011.
John founded a personal and leadership development company, called PurposeQuest, in 2001 and today travels the world to speak, consult and inspire leaders and people everywhere. From 2001-2008, he spent six months a year in Africa and still enjoys visiting and working on that continent, while teaching for Geneva College’s Masters of Organizational Leadership and the Center for Urban Biblical Ministry in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most recently, John founded Urban Press, a publishing service designed to tell stories of the city, from the city and to the city.
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