Good News MagazineEach issue offers an eye-opening in-depth perspective of the Bible  
 
View All Good News Video Commentaries
 
November 20, 2009
Bend But Don't Break
November 16, 2009
40 Years of Sesame Street
November 13, 2009
Peace, Peace—But There Is No Peace
November 11, 2009
World 2.0
November 9, 2009
When Walls Come Down
November 6, 2009
Hope for Fort Hood
November 4, 2009
Afghanistan's Cancelled Elections
November 3, 2009
Healthcare and Horses
 
October 30, 2009
Ho, Ho, Halloween
October 28, 2009
Harmless Halloween?
October 26, 2009
Smart Chickens
October 23, 2009
Why No Nobel Peace Prize for the Greatest Peacemaker?
October 21, 2009
Death of a Computer
October 19, 2009
Not By Might
 
September 25, 2009
A Festival of Peace
September 24, 2009
Nukes in Iran
September 23, 2009
Three-Hearted Nations
September 21, 2009
Dawkins or Design?
September 17, 2009
Watch Your Mouth
September 15, 2009
World War II & the Hitler-Stalin Pact
September 11, 2009
Remembering 9/11
September 11, 2009
Terrorism and the Bible
September 10, 2009
Ted Kennedy and America
September 9, 2009
President Addresses Students
September 3, 2009
Can the War In Afghanistan Be Won?
September 1, 2009
Jaycee Dugard Found After 18 Years
 
 
Subscribe to Good News Email
Find Good News on Facebook
Follow Good News on Twitter
Good News RSS Feed

 

 

GN Commentary: February 5, 2009 - Leaders and Leadership

The Bible gives many examples of what we should expect in a leader.

 

Related Resources

Leadership: A Biblical Perspective
What does God look for in a leader? Does He expect certain standards and behavior in a person chosen for a role of leadership and service to others?

What Is True Leadership?
Which ingredients make an effective leader? And what makes some leaders take tragic courses for themselves and their fellowmen?

Where Have All the Leaders Gone?
In an ocean of six billion people, humanity is awash with a surplus of sinners and a shortage of saints. What the world needs now are leaders who rise above the tide to improve human conditions.

 

Video Transcript

There is great anticipation for change to take place through President Barak Obama's new leadership. How these changes will affect our country and us personall remains to be seen?

We don't know yet what to expect.

However there are certain characteristics we should all expect from our leaders.

Here are few important ones.

In the ancient book on leaders and leadership—the Bible—we read how powerful King David of Israel described leaders. "He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God" (2 Samuel 23:3). Strong words for would-be leaders.

To be just, one needs to have his life in order in a righteous way. He also needs to be fair—avoiding playing favorites. His judgments must not be prejudiced and must be lawful.

The fear of God means that one knows he is not the ultimate authority, but will be judged by the one greater than all of us—the supreme God. Having the fear of God will keep one mindful of his actions. He will make sure that they are honorable and fith ethical teachings of the Word of God.

Moses received advice from his father-in-law regarding being a leader (Exodus 18:21). Jethro's advice included the need to have the skills and abilities to do the job. Leaders need to be truthful, trustworthy and must hate covetousness—people cannot be in a leadership role for their own benefit or take advantage of others because of thier rank or position.

Jethro also included David's advice, that a leader must "fear God" and follow godly ways to be effective as a leader.

So what should we expect to observe in our leaders based on the counsel from these ancient advisors? We should expect our leaders to have reverence for God and His ways, to have the skills to do their jobs, to be impartial and just, and to avoid selfishness and greed.

These meaningful characteristics should be in our leaders if they are to successfully in leading. We should expect to see them reflected in the leadership of our country—the United States of America.

By the way, it would do us all good to add these same leadership qualitites into our lives as well.

For GN Magazine, I'm Gary Antion.

 

 

 


Good News Magazine © 1995-2009 United Church of God, an International Association | Privacy Policy
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. All correspondence and questions should be sent to info@gnmagazine.org. Send inquiries regarding the operation of this Web site to webmaster@gnmagazine.org.