Great Leadership begins with Humility

HIGHLIGHT: 2 Chronicles 1:7-12 - 7 7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”8 Solomon replied to God, “You showed great and faithful love to David, my father, and now you have made me king in his place. 9 O Lord God, please continue to keep your promise to David my father, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth! 10 Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?”11 God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people— 12 I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!”

EXPLAIN: Chronicles begins with Solomon establishing himself as the new King. It is nice to have a different source, 1 Kings which gives a little more detail. David, the former King and father to Solomon, encourages his son to love the Lord and walk according to commands. The wording actually sounds similar to what Moses told Joshua before he began to lead the people of Israel, and what Samuel told Israel before he died: stay faithful to the Lord who has loved you, given you laws that will keep you focused on God, and will ultimately bring you life and blessings.

We know that there is no central place to worship the Lord in Israel, which had been a concern of David's. In verse three, Solomon and the people go to one of the high places, where God's tent of meeting, was located. It was here that Solomon offers sacrifices to the Lord. It also begins to show that there is a need for a central location.

On that night, in verse seven, we see that God appears pleased with Solomon does and says, "“What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” Solomon takes time to praise the Lord for his faithfulness to his Dad, for making him King and then asks for wisdom to lead the people.

God simply responds and says that since Solomon doesn't ask for what the normal requests would be (think wealth, riches, fame or even the death of your enemies), then I will give you the wisdom you have asked for as well as the wealth and fame.

APPLY: Solomon begins his prayer not with a request, but with a recognition. Everything he has is because God has brought him to power. The same account recorded in 1 Kings says that Solomon started off by saying I am a little child and I do not know how to lead these people - at this point, for sure, my leadership skills are left wanting when it comes to leading a nation.

People believe that leadership is about power, and that might be true of our world today. The truth, however, is that great leadership begins with humility. It begins with the recognition that I do not know all the answers, and I may even have more questions than others, but I am willing to admit that I need help. Good leadership helps you accomplish the organization's goals. Great leadership, which starts with humility, starts with the realization that I am here for the betterment of people and that means I need help.

It is important to note that no one ever outgrows the need for wisdom. No one, including yourself, knows all the answers. Part of that is because we are finite in our thinking. The other part is because culture is always changing. Who really knows how to lead or manage people in the middle of their difficulties? Who really knows how to lead their children or grandchildren in a culture where values are constantly changing? Asking for wisdom is the wisest thing anyone can ask for because it is always needed.

We must also note that knowledge is what most people seek after. Knowledge is something we can know - how to change brakes, how to schedule a meeting, how to order at McDonalds (honestly, not everyone can do this well). However, wisdom is knowing what to do with what you know. It is the action that allows you to live life knowing that the decision you make right now will affect the life you live into the future.

We are all leaders at some level. Leadership has often been defined as influence. You have influence as a manager, company owner, husband, wife, parent, neighbor, community arts guild participant or in any other area of life you find yourself. Good leaders are listeners - they listen to people and try their best. Great leaders listen to God's wisdom and follow His leading. God is the one who longs to give more than what we even think is needed for the days ahead.

God is: wise, loving, life-giving, kind, just, gracious, faithful, capable.

Solomon’s number one desire in the beginning was wisdom: a listening heart meant that he was willing to take time to listen. When is the last time you made time to simply listen? Know that not only will God give you wisdom for each moment of life, but that wisdom will grow into more than you ever dreamed.

RESPONSE: God I need you. I need your wisdom for certain things in my life now, but the truth is I need you for every moment of life. Would you give me your wisdom and help me to follow so I can experience life to it's fullest!