Succession is one of the most popular and critically successful television shows in recent history. A story of conniving children vying for the corporate power of an abusive and manipulative father, the comedy softens the deep-seated sadness of grown adults groveling for acceptance and power through entitlement and nepotism. No wonder Americans loved it!
At first blush, this may not seem like an overly Christian topic. Western morality of fairness naturally indicts nepotism–the act of the wealthy or powerful in providing special privileges to their family. However, as Christian nationalism aligns itself closely with a political party exalting a man known for favoring his relatives with power while the other political party successfully elected a different president embroiled in similar nepotic drama, it seems poignant to address it in biblical terms. So, here we are.
According to the publication Fortune, 60% of wealthy families lose their riches within one generation, while 90% lose them within two. Something important is lost in translation between the generation that earns the wealth and those who come to feel entitled to it. The same could be said for political power, as history is littered with progenitors passing dictatorship or monarchical power to their bloodlines, only for the next generations to be more severe, more hated, and more likely to lose their grip on their rule.
Perhaps this is why the Bible is so adamant about the responsibilities of parents to teach their children about faith matters. Deuteronomy 6:7 instructs adults to impress the biblical rules upon their children. Proverbs 22:6 assures us that teaching a child the way they should go will pay off as the child grows. I’ve addressed the importance of generational faith in an earlier message, but the same is valid for leadership–for both civil and religious forms. The Bible has much more to say about this, too.
The failures of nepotism fill much of Israel’s political history. David’s kingly reign was marked by his faith and military victories, as well as some high-profile scandals; however, his son Absalom grew impatient and proud, ultimately attempting to usurp the throne for himself before dying in battle (2 Samuel 15-17). David’s appointed successor, Solomon, starts well but kills many of his half-brothers and ultimately leads Israel astray in their faith due to his many pagan wives (1 Kings 11). The rough hand-off between David and Solomon was made worse between Solomon and his son, Rehoboam. The latter chose to be even more severe on the people than his father. This erupted in a civil war and a split kingdom, setting the stage for generations of fallen faith and political leaders to lead the nation to death and enslavement. The entitlement of succession begets generations of poor leaders chosen because of their blood rather than God’s anointing.
The same could be said for religious leaders. The prophet Eli was respected, though perhaps was a little presumptuous. His sons, on the other hand, were corrupt priests who greatly distressed the Lord (1 Samuel 2). God eventually ends Eli’s lineage. Even Samuel, who was tapped to judge Israel instead of Eli’s sons, attempted to instill his own sons as judges as he neared death, but even they “turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.” (1 Samuel 8:3, NIV). At this point, the elders ask for a king to be chosen, against God’s original wishes (Deuteronomy 16:18). This sets the stage for much of Israel’s impending apostasy and drama. The dangers and consequences of nepotism in faith leadership are just as dire as those in the political realm.
There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with younger generations assuming the mantle of responsibility and authority from their forefathers, but there is undoubtedly an additional risk that must be acknowledged and confronted. In contrast, some of the most successful exchanges of faith or political power happened outside of family ties. For instance, the handoff of leadership between Moses and Joshua (Joshua 1) led to many military victories and years of religious devotion; God chose Joshua for the job. Similarly, Samuel was divinely called to judge Israel, much to Eli’s disappointment (1 Samuel 3). If that wasn’t enough, God directed Elijah to specifically anoint Elisha as his prophetic successor (1 Kings 19:16), with the latter receiving a “double portion” of his mentor’s spirit. Though not preferred by Saul, David’s ascension in power stands in stark contrast to the paranoia of Samuel’s surviving son, Ish-Bosheth (2 Samuel 3). Other appointments, such as Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon, suggest that God knows what he’s doing. When God, not men (much less parents), hand-picks the successor, the chance of success is much higher.
These overwhelming data points all suggest one thing: Man’s appointment fails where God’s anointing succeeds. Try as we might to safeguard our companies or ministries by passing them on through our bloodlines, there is nothing we can do to replicate God’s providence. This should inspire us to confirm our succession plans with the Lord. We should look for biblical ties in our next leaders, not family ties. Unrelated successors have as much to prove as the founding generation of wealth or ministry. While family succession is possible, it is precarious–there are many more biblical examples of failed nepotism than successful ones.
This is merely a cautious survey of the Bible, but one that could be easily overlooked. My hope is that our boards of directors or elders bear these examples in mind when choosing who will assume the mantle of leadership as an older generation steps down. Though God chose Israel’s bloodline to bring about the Savior, it was touch-and-go in the Exodus wilderness, during the age of Judges, and certainly through and since the Babylonian exile. Now, salvation has been offered freely for all, regardless of heritage. There is no more Jew or Greek (Galatians 3:28). God could instantaneously create blood relatives from rocks if He so chose (Matthew 3:9). The only favoritism now is through Christ. His blood, alone, is the only dependable sort.
38 - What’s so bad about nepotism?