Elections and Leadership

Yesterday was the primary elections. In researching for direction in my own voting choices, visiting every candidate’s web page, and/or listening to them speak, some I even met face to face, I was struck by the difference in character shown to me.

Some were so very clear on what issues they stood for, what they represented publicly and personally as well. Many were bold in their proclamations of faith and desiring our nation to get back to its roots, while others had no mention of faith whatsoever. The contrast was startling.

While I was greatly encouraged by those who were firm in their faith and with their stance on things that had to do with helping our nation return back to what our founding fathers had established, I was also devastated by the blatant lack of God in the lives of others. But, as I stated in yesterday’s posting I am not here to judge.

The results were, sadly, not completely what I had desired, but I do know that it is not yet over – this was a primary election after all – and God has given us the direction in which to focus our prayers. Good leader or bad leader, we must pray for the Lord’s perfect will to be done. We need to remain alert to who the people are, what they stand for, and continue to pray, pray, pray.

What do I mean by ‘bad leader’? Well, the Bible gives us some examples of unsuccessful leadership in 2 Kings.

Time and again a king would arise to power, to lead their nation, yet would not be honored with success. The reason for this was plain – they were not obedient to the leading of God for the leading of His people. The majority of them totally ignored any ‘anointing’ from God for their leadership; in fact, they ‘did evil in the eyes of the Lord.’ (Jehoram, Ahaziah, Ahab, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jerobam II, Zechariah, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah, just to name a few).

Then there were kings who did understand the anointing upon their lives for leadership of their nations, and many did right and good things. However, even they did not give themselves COMPLETELY to God’s leading. They did NOT destroy the ‘high places’, those places used for the worship of other gods. Let’s take a look at what the Word says about some of these kings:

Jehu – he was ‘not careful to keep the law of the Lord with ALL his heart’ (2 Kings 10:31, EMPHASIS mine) – he did many wonderful things for the people and for the Lord, but he did not give his ALL to the service of the Lord. He allowed certain sins to remain.

Joash – he did really well, for one so young, and the people of the land actually rejoiced. But, he was also under the careful guidance of Jehoiada the priest; when he died, Joash turned away and started serving idols instead of Jehovah.

Amaziah, Azariah and Jotham all did what was right in the eyes of God, yet they too did not remove the high places, and sacrifices and burnt offerings continued to be offered up to idols and other gods.

These are just a few examples, but it gives us a glimpse into what the Lord requires . . . to ‘act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God’ (Micah 6:8) . . . AND . . . have NO other gods, NO idols. “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.” Exodus 20:3-5a

The bottom line here is that we are all called to leadership in one area or another. It may be at work, at home, at school, in a club, at church, with our siblings, in our neighborhood or in the political arena. The questions we need to ask ourselves are:

1) What are our guidelines – where are we placing our focus? (or what is the focus of a specific political leader)? Is it on the Lord God or life circumstances?
2) Are we/they following after His direction for our lives, or going our own way, leaving some areas untouched and asking Him to bless our endeavors?

If we truly want to be successful in all areas of our lives, we need to be sure that we are holding nothing back . . . we need to destroy those things that are not of God and be representatives of His walking upright and bringing honor to Him in all we do. (Are our leaders?)

It needs to be from a heart that is COMPLETELY turned over to Him . . . if . . . we desire to be successful.

So, if your election results were not exactly what YOU desired either, join along with me in praying for God to get a hold of the hearts of those who were elected – AND – pray for guidance for those who have yet to “give up the fight” and keep trying – if they’re taking a stand for the Gospel – we must take a stand with them!

(c) klh 4Given Ministries