Bible reading for June 1

Scripture

2 Samuel 19:9 “And throughout the tribes of Israel there was much discussion and argument going on. The people were saying, “The king saved us from our enemies, the Philistines, but Absalom chased him out of the country. Now Absalom, whom we anointed to rue over us, is dead. Let’s ask David to come back band be our king again.”

Observation

The people are fickle. One moment they want David to be their king and then they turned their affections to Absalom. The next thing you know they want David to be their king again. Before this they followed Saul but sang praises to David. Their affections towards their leaders were constantly changing. It really depended on which one they thought would do the most for them. Who made them happy was the criteria. Americans are like this. We tend to vote not by our values but which candidate will promise us the most, which one is more likeable and gives the best speeches. We are fickle when it comes to leadership.

Application

Everyone in leadership needs to understand this. You can not go by who likes you today and who is upset with you. As spiritual leaders we must make pleasing God our number one priority. People are choosy and nitpicky. God is not. God is not like man. God chooses leaders based upon His criteria. God looks at a person’s heart. God stands by His leaders. I cannot make pleasing people my aim. It will never work. I have to decide what is right. I am to discern what the will of God is and do that. That is what determines my actions and then I stand by them. I let the chips fall where they may. If I allow myself to become a people pleaser my life will always be unsteady because people are inconsistent. I will be up one day and down the next.

Prayer

Father give me the courage to always do what is right. Give me the courage to always be obedient to you. Give me the strength to stand against popular opinion and to stand for righteousness. Give me the courage to always stand on your side and be faithful to your standards. I don’t want to be a politician, making my decisions by the poll numbers. I want to be a man of character. I want to be pleasing to you. I want to be the kind of leader that does what is right regardless of the cost. I want to lead your people in a God honoring way. I want to love them and minister to them but I do not want to be a needy leader. I do not want to need their approval. I want to do what is best for them. I want to lead them into the will of God.