Who is a Good Leader?

Jeremiah 3:15
Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.

Prophet Jeremiah speaks of the restoration of Israel from punishment from sin. Among the many things that will happen during restoration is that God will give new leaders. God will give good leaders. Having bad leaders is a consequence of sin in the community, Isaiah 3:4. Good leaders come from God. Bad leaders come from God as a punishment to the community that has sinned against God. Therefore, all leaders come from God!

God promises through Jeremiah that part of the restoration process is the giving of new leaders. Bad leaders were the reason why the community suffered last time. Good leaders are now the ingredient to a better society. Leaders make a difference. They may be few, but their decisions can ruin or prosper the community. To be unconcerned about the type of leaders we have is a carelessness intelligent and wise persons cannot afford. The fate of the community is in the hands of the leaders to some extent.

If God gives leaders for restoration, these must be the best leaders. We can therefore deduce who a good leader is, from the choices God will send to the community. This is where our key question can be answered on who is a good leader. Who is a good leader?

First, a good leader is given by God. God says I will give you the leaders. If the leader is not God-given that leader will not be good even if they have the best leadership training. A leader with many years of experience in successful leadership is valueless if God has not chosen that leader.

Secondly, a good leader is after God’s own heart. God says to us in our text today that He will give leaders after His own heart. A leader after God’s own heart is one who only seeks to please God. Others please voters. Others please bosses. Others please their tribes and races. Others please a cabal of stakeholders. Others please their appetite for power and being respected. Others please their hunger for material gain. However, a good leader is only focused on pleasing God. Pleasing God will never conflict with human interests that are consistent with God’s will.

Thirdly, a good leader leads with knowledge. Knowledge is what we need to know in order to lead. The qualifications and even experience are part of knowledge. Knowledge from wide reading. Knowledge from consultations. Knowledge from past failures. Knowledge from reports and briefings. Knowledge of finances. A good leader has knowledge.

Fourthly, a good leader has understanding. A good leader leads with understanding. Understanding is a proper interpretation of environmental circumstances. Understanding means you can overlook certain things for the common welfare of everyone. Understanding means you know that people must always talk about leaders, so you don’t go looking for that information, you ignore it and move on. An understanding leader easily forgives and overlooks. An understanding leader is accommodative.

May God grant us good leaders and forgive us for everything in our past that could bring the curse of bad leaders. Make us good leaders dear God, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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