The Good Leader Assigns and Encourages
He assigned the priests to their duties and encouraged them in their work at the Temple of the Lord. He issued this order to the Levites, who were to teach all Israel and who had been set apart to serve the Lord: “Put the holy Ark in the Temple that was built by Solomon son of David, the king of Israel. You no longer need to carry it back and forth on your shoulders. Now spend your time serving the Lord your God and his people Israel.” 2 Chronicles 35:2-3 NLT
In the great task of restoring worship and celebrating the Passover, King Josiah shows us an extraordinary model of effective leadership. A good leader not only delegates responsibilities, but also provides encouragement, supervision, inspiration, and motivation. Josiah understood that to achieve success in God’s work, it was not enough to give cold orders; it was fundamental to connect with the heart of his team, organize them correctly, and remind them of the eternal purpose of their labor. By observing the actions of this king, we discover vital principles that will help us lead successfully in our family, work, or ministry.
- Have a clear vision A leader cannot guide others if they do not know where they are going. Josiah had a clear vision because he read in the Book of the Law regarding the temple, the work of the priests, and the celebration of the Passover.
- Delegate responsibilities clearly For a team to function, each member must know exactly what is expected of them. Josiah assigned the priests their responsibilities specifically, avoiding confusion and promoting the progress of the work.
- Organize the work by placing people in their niche Success is maximized when people operate in their strengths. The king organized the work by tasks and placed people in their niche, ensuring that the priests and Levites dedicated themselves to their own duties.
- Provide constant encouragement and inspiration A good leader assigns responsibilities, but also knows how to encourage and inspire people. They do not carry a whip in their hand to threaten, but words of encouragement, acting like a good coach who motivates their players to win a game.
- Focus service on God and people Josiah’s instruction reminded them that they should spend their time serving God and His people. Life is about two eternal beings: God and people, so everything we do must be for the glory of God and the benefit of people.
True leadership is not about exercising dominion, but about empowering, encouraging, and directing others toward the fulfillment of divine purpose. When we combine clarity in instructions with words of affirmation, we create an environment where people flourish and work is done with excellence and joy. Let us never forget that, whether we lead a large company, a church ministry, or our own family, the greatest legacy we can leave is investing our lives in serving God and enriching the people He has placed in our path.
He assigned the priests to their duties and encouraged them in their work at the Temple of the Lord. He issued this order to the Levites, who were to teach all Israel and who had been set apart to serve the Lord: “Put the holy Ark in the Temple that was built by Solomon son of David, the king of Israel. You no longer need to carry it back and forth on your shoulders. Now spend your time serving the Lord your God and his people Israel.” 2 Chronicles 35:2-3 NLT
Think About It:
- Are you a leader who only delegates tasks, or do you also take the time to encourage and inspire your team?
- Evaluate if the people under your care are placed in the right “niche” where they can best use their talents and skills.
- In what practical way can you ensure that your work today benefits people and gives glory to God?