Although the campaign period for national officials will start on February 12, 2019 and for local officials on March 29, 2019, there are already many posters and tarpaulins posted for those vying for a position on the May 13 elections. The election fever is upon us.
Is there a clear guideline in the Bible on what is a good leader? There are many examples and principles that we can get from the Bible. Here is one guideline that God said to Moses — “A king must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself, or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them… He must not take many wives or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold” (Deuteronomy 17:16-17).
Looking at it closer, God’s criteria is that a leader should be:
First, a leader is someone who will not repeat past mistakes, and will always pursue an agenda that gives freedom to people. This is what it means of not returning the people back to Egypt — a symbol of slavery, and of military arrogance.
Second, a leader is someone who is faithful and committed to what is in the heart of God. The key here is that the leader’s heart will not be led astray either by a woman, a man, a thing, a group of people or another agenda. The commitment of the leader should foremost be on God.
Third, a leader is someone who does not use a position or power to acquire material possessions. The kings in the Bible were not exempted by the temptation of having many horses, silver or gold. This is the same with our leaders of today because human nature is still the same. The Bible is telling our leaders to be honest and transparent.
Let us ponder upon this as election fever has already began.
Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on
#SeedsOfFaith
#BinhiSangPagtuo
February 11, 2019