Thankful Leadership
2 Chronicles 5
#leadership
Good morning, brothers!
This week I had a great conversation with a friend about bosses and mentors we’ve known. Some were unbelievers, yet kind, caring, and genuinely concerned for our well-being. Others claimed to follow Christ but shirked their duties, spoke rudely, took credit for others’ work, and showed little fruit of the Spirit. Their real priority? Money. They dressed up self-centered ambition in Christian language and quietly worked against the Cause of Christ.
God bless the men who lead and serve well! And may the Lord have mercy on those who don’t.
Corruption in the Church isn’t new. It walked right alongside the Twelve, Judas is proof enough. The New Testament repeatedly warns us about false teachers and those who try to use God for personal gain.
Jesus taught us a better way to pray: “Give us this day our daily bread.” Not a stockpile. Not a personal empire. Just enough, received with open, generous hands. Forgive as we have been forgiven. Deliver us from evil.
The Lord’s Prayer and the Apostles’ Creed remind us every day: our true citizenship is in the Kingdom of God, not the next promotion, the corner office, or the biggest profit.
God will not be mocked. Christ’s leadership is beautifully upside-down: the greatest among you shall be your servant. Leaders eat last.
Thankfulness is a powerful virtue. The prayers of the ancient saints fortify us and remind us that gratitude begets happiness, true peace. Thankfulness is key to the Christian life. Be drawn to men who carry the peace of the Lord Jesus, because only He can give it. Salvation is by grace alone through faith in Him.
We owe God everything, and the first way we repay Him is with joyful recognition that He is good and His steadfast love endures forever. We see this joy explode in 2 Chronicles 5. Solomon completes the Temple. The ark is brought in. One hundred and twenty priests sound the trumpets. Leaders and Levites lift their voices together in one mighty chorus: “He is good; His love endures forever!” The glory of the Lord fills the house - may that be said of our houses.
We don’t need to know everything. The apostles didn’t either. For forty days, the risen Christ taught them about the Kingdom (Acts 1:3). Yet they still asked, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6).
Jesus answered with clarity and hope: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-8)
He gave Peter the keys of the Kingdom (Matthew 16:19), breathed the Holy Spirit on the apostles (John 20:22), and sent them out, not to build personal empires or hoard wealth, but to proclaim His resurrection with boldness and joy.
Peter didn’t stockpile billions for a rainy day. He fed the sheep, trusted God completely, and helped turn the world upside down for Christ.
Brothers, let’s fix our eyes on Jesus. Here’s how our Lord Jesus Christ puts it in Matthew 6: “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and money. Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? … But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:24-34)
Gents, yes, we must plan well. We must compete well. But knowing God in His essence is our end. Be content in Jesus.
Lead today with thankful, humble, joyful hearts. Serve boldly. Speak the Gospel clearly. Trust the King who is with us and who is coming again. He is good. His love endures forever.
Amen.
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