Zechariah 11:15-16 (ESV)
[15] Then the LORD said to me, “Take once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd. [16] For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for those being destroyed, or seek the young or heal the maimed or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs.

God’s judgment on his people came in the form of ungodly, uncaring, self-centered shepherds. When the Word of God is not heeded, the work of God is not priority, and the people of God live as though they are their own gods, then God often judges them with poor leaders. We get the leaders we deserve.

We often want to blame leaders. Whether we are talking about church or community, ministry or nation, it is easier to blame leadership than to blame ourselves. Honestly, in Israel the nation followed where the leaders led, right over a cliff to judgment. Yet there is another way to view that. The leaders led right where the people wanted to go, right over a cliff to judgment. When talking to leaders, we need to emphasize the responsibility to lead rightly out of pure hearts and godly motives. When we are talking to the people being led, we need to emphasize the responsibility to live rightly out of pure hearts and godly motives. We often get the leaders we deserve.

So what’s the point? The point is that we need to stop blaming others for the problems that surround us. Is our nation in a mess? It is likely because we, ourselves, brought about the mess through our own selfish and self-centered demands. Is our church in a mess? It is likely because of our own self-focus. Church was never about us. When it becomes about us we have chosen to go down a road that ultimately leads to bad leaders and functional dysfunction. We get the leadership we deserve. When it really is about God it changes everything. Is your country in a mess? Is your community in a mess? Is your church in a mess? Is your family in a mess? Perhaps we need to start by asking God to search our own hearts and motives rather than searching for who to blame.

Psalms 139:23-24 (ESV)
[23] Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
[24] And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!

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