"And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever" (1 Kings 12:7).
I have always maintained that leadership at its best is service. The ideal leader in any society or organisation is the servant leader.
Jesus said to His disciples that even though they called Him Lord or Master, and rightly so, He operated among them as one who served (Luke 22:27). And when He washed the feet of the disciples, Jesus also demonstrated that it is not just enough to talk about being a servant leader but that the leader must truly serve.
In serving the people, leaders provide answers. The old men told Rehoboam that his job it was to answer the people. In other words, a leader provides answers because a leader is an answer. It is a major aspect of the duty of a leader to be an answer to the questions in the lives and situations of the followers. In doing so, leaders bring comfort to the people they lead and peace to the community or organisation over which they preside.
All these attributes were adequately exemplified in David, the grandfather of Rehoboam. He served God and his people creditably well.
He was a covering to the people, defending them often times at the risk of his own life. He brought comfort and prosperity to Israel, and the nation progressed greatly during his reign. That quality foundation in national leadership was built upon by Solomon and Israel became the envy of other nations. But sadly, Rehoboam came and messed up everything. Due to his bad leadership style which did not honour the people, Israel disintegrated and the nation was broken into two.
The ultimate lesson to learn from the misadventure of Rehoboam is that leadership is a privilege and for leadership to succeed and endure positively, the leader must honour his followers. If Rehoboam had opted to treat the people with decency and dignity, he would have been loved, respected and accepted by the people. Like the elders told him, the people would have served and followed him wholeheartedly.
The time has come that leaders must treat their followers with respect so that both the leader and the led may achieve their common purpose.
The rule will apply the same way irrespective of the type of organisation you might be involved with, whether at home, in the church, in business corporations or in civil government. Even in a military setting where unquestioned obedience is required, demanded and given, leadership will achieve more, succeed more and endure more if the followership is treated with reasonable courtesy, dignity,
honour and respect.
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