TREAT PEOPLE WELL

Online Bible study

Tayo Onaleye

Focus: 1 Kings
Text: 1Kings 12.12-16

*Topic: TREAT PEOPLE WELL*

1 Kings 12.

 12  So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.

 13  And *the king answered the people roughly,* and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; 

 14  And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father alsochastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

 15  Wherefore *the king hearkened not unto the people;* for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

 16   *So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying*, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: *to your tents, O Israel:*now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.

King Rehoboam, the son and immediate successor of Solomon was not properly groomed for the throne.

He didn't treat people well and paid dearly for it.

*APPLICATION*

*1. RESPECT PEOPLE*

*That you are being followed is a privilege.*

People have options and they may decide to switch allegiance and not follow you. You must respect this.

*Even if you are the "oga at the top" who hires and fires, you must see this position of being the employer or the "boss" as a privilege.*

What do you have that you did not receive?

1Co 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 

No man can receive anything except he is given from heaven. John 3.27

Your position is a *privilege*by grace entrusted to you to serve people and not to lord it over them.

1Peter 5.3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

*Everybody deserves to be respected, yes, even your cleaner.*

Respect people

*2. HONOUR PEOPLE*

Mat 22:21 ...... Then saith he unto them,  *Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's;*   and unto God the things that are God's

Some people in our lives deserve to be specially honored. Particularly *people who have labored over you in one way or the other and have been a blessing to you.*

Parents, teachers, trainers, instructors, church leaders, organisational leaders, etc

These people deserve to be honored.

Give them their due honor.

Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

*3. LISTEN TO PEOPLE*

When the chips are down, leadership is all about people, people and people. Every other thing is commentary.

Without people your leadership is over.

So listen to them!

For every one person who summons the courage to complain there are 9 others who are walking away quietly instead of going through the trouble of complaining.

So complaints are a blessing!

It's vital feed back!

So please listen to people when they have complaints.

*4. ADDRESS COMPLAINTS SINCERELY AND PROMPTLY*

You have listened to people.

Now do something about their complaints.

Communicate clearly and frequently.

Address the highlighted issues head-on.

No beating about the bush.

If some things cannot be addressed now make it very clear so nobody is in the dark.

Leave nobody guessing.

Don't leave issues hanging.

Draw the lives and bring things to a closure.

*Treat people well.......it's a privilege to serve them*