Six Leadership Principles for Success - 2 Chronicles 17-20

 2 Chronicles 17:6-11 (ESV Strong's)

6 His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.

7 In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; 8 and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah; and with these Levites, the priests Elishama and Jehoram. 9 And they taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the LORD with them. They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

10 And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, and they made no war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver for tribute, and the Arabians also brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats.

Six Leadership Principles for Success

Jehoshaphat was a great king who obeyed God (although falls away at the very end of his life).   During the beginning of his leadership, however, the above passages tells us the reason for the success he had prior to his old age miscue (see 1 Chronicles 20:35-37).   Notice the steps we see in the above passage for leadership success:

1.  He first established his own, personal walk with God (v. 6a).   He turned his heart to be courageous for God.   This was an inward act of repentance and faith.   

2. He destroyed known artifacts that represent something contrary to truth.  He was not afraid to take on those areas of conflict and that would pull his people down (v. 6b).  

3. He established a great leadership team with other leaders who the skill set to teach truth (vs. 7-8).  He surrounded himself with like-minded individuals who had a skill to instruct others. 

4.  He taught truth to the masses.  Jehoshaphat made sure that not only his leadership team new truth, he made sure that truth was pushed down all the way to the lowest level of his kingdom (v. 9)

5.  He established peace with those who were normally his enemies.  He became a peacemaker in a time others, typically, wanted war (v 10).  

6.  He was humble enough to receive gifts and support from those who, at one time, had been chief enemies (v. 11).  That means he had to be willing to forgive, forget and move on.   

These are six great principle for any leader to follow.