Read today’s texts first: 1 Kings 3; 2 Chronicles 1; Psalms 78; 2 Thessalonians 2
Maintaining a balance between skill and integrity is critical. We can never become so good at something that we no longer need God!
Two observations after a busy time of supervising our energetic grand kids: you won’t always have a regular time for your daily devotions (the realities of life), but the opportunities you get to watch God at work make up for it! The theme of our readings today center around leadership and it has been fun witnessing a natural leader in action, directing the other neighbourhood kids in playing family.
It reminded me of another memorable moment with the grandkids. After returning from their reward at Chuckecheese (the kids had been earning tokens all week long playing Nana’s “good behaviour bingo”), Kaitlyn, who cashed all her tickets in on too much candy, was experiencing an overdose of sugar combined with some God-given charisma. She soon organized the neighbourhood kids into decorating our cul-de-sac with road chalk. While I was sitting in my lounge chair at the end of the driveway, again a little too engrossed in my reading, they soon had my son’s car covered in creative chalk designs. The party quickly changed to a neighbourhood carwash (after my leadership skills kicked in), with my granddaughter encouraging her friends to join her tomorrow in a new carwash business venture.
Asaph’s psalm today alluded to David’s leadership skills, which also started at a young age. David learned as a young boy that practice makes perfect, multi-tasking some target shooting while watching his father’s sheep. He also used that time to make music and write psalms of praise to His God. Those two things, his faith in God and his random slingshot skills, combined for a career-launching encounter with a giant named Goliath. From then on, his “integrity and skill” became the hallmark of his life and 40 year reign over Israel: He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens; from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance. And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them (78:70-72).
Solomon, David’s son and chosen heir to his throne, had similar integrity and leadership skills: Solomon son of David established himself firmly over his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him exceedingly great (1:1). What will be interesting to observe in the days ahead is how Solomon’s skills increase while his integrity is weakened through compromise. Maintaining that balance is critical and, unfortunately, very difficult. As leaders hone their natural abilities they can soon forget their need for God’s supernatural help. “Lord, while I know You made me a leader I also know I can only remain a leader with Your help. To continue to make an eternal difference in people’s lives, especially with my kids and grand kids, I need to lead with integrity of heart and skillful hands.”
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