John Maxwell Profiles in Leadership: Jonathan – Strengthen Your Leader, Save a Nation

This is the final lesson in bestselling author and speaker John Maxwell’s Leadership by the Bible series. If you know someone or a group who would like to follow along on this journey through Scripture, tell them to sign up to receive John’s free email devotional here.

By John C. Maxwell

1 Samuel 18:1-4

Jonathan and David became fast friends soon after David killed Goliath. From that point on, Jonathan was willing to do anything to help David become king. What empowered Jonathan to do such a thing, to put David ahead of himself as successor to the throne?

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Jonathan saw the big picture. The prince realized David had the potential to be a better leader than his father or himself. He knew helping David would benefit the kingdom more than promoting himself as Israel’s future ruler, so he strategically invested his time and energy for David’s success. Jonathan gave up his own future on the throne to serve God’s chosen successor. The result? The reign of David was the greatest in Israel’s history. Jonathan was instrumental in helping David be the leader that God meant him to be.

The greatest opportunity to influence you may have is to support another leader. You don’t have to be on the front lines to share in the rewards or make a great impact. When you see what is truly important and are willing to do what’s needed without recognition or fanfare, you share in your leader’s success. Strengthen your leader, and you may be able to help save your church, your organization, or even your nation.

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The above is adapted from The Maxwell Leadership Bible / Third Edition by John C. Maxwell (@JohnCMaxwell). Copyright © 2002, 2007, 2018 by Maxwell Motivation, Inc. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. www.thomasnelson.com.

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