THE IDEAL LEADER

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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Today’s example of good leadership, as found in the message of the biblical book of Deuteronomy, is about the ideal leader. The Lord God calls all the future leaders of his people to take on certain characteristics that will not only set these leaders up for success but will also be a blessing to all of God’s people. 

14 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” 15 be sure to appoint over you a king the LORD your God chooses. He must be from among your fellow Israelites. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not an Israelite. 

16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” 17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold. 

18 When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. 19 It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees 20 and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.

(Deuteronomy 17:14-20 NIV11)

The Need

Like it or not, humanity needs leadership. Perhaps you would like to experience living in a world where you do not have any form of authority over you and where you are then free to act in whatever way you choose. 

This libertarian utopia breaks down the second we are joined by other people who also desire to live free from anyone else’s leadership but their own. As you can imagine, chaos and bloodshed would not take long to break out in such a situation. 

God’s Ideal

For the people of Israel, this need for a leader was initially met by the giving of the law itself. As the people of God lived by the principles laid out in the message of the Hebrew law, the people would find themselves under the authority of the Lord and not the whims of mankind. 

But, as always happens, people ruined this blessing and fell into discord and chaos. In this passage we hear the Lord speaking to what would eventually come to pass. The people would grow weary of living under the law’s authority and seek out earthly leadership. 

Leadership Principles

•   In this message from the Lord, the following leadership principles are given to those who desire to lead well. 
•   Leaders must identify with those under their care. 
•   God’s leaders should live within the means of those they seek to lead. 
•   Pursuing wealth and status alienates the leader from his or her people and leads to outcomes that do not honor God. 
•   God’s leader keeps the Word of God near him and in his heart at all times. 
•   God’s leader does more than acknowledge the authority of the Bible to provide wisdom for their daily lives; instead, God’s leader actually allows the message of God’s word to impact his or her choices. 
•   God’s good leader does not see himself or herself as deserving of the position. Instead, they understand that leadership is a privilege entrusted by God to those who will seek the best for those they are called to lead. 

Reflection

•   To whom has the Lord called you to provide leadership?
•   Are you seeking the wisdom and guidance of the Bible as you seek to lead others? 
•   Do those in your sphere of influence know that you are seeking their best interests and that you are not working for your own glory and praise?

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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