“If you walk in my ways and keep my statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.” (1 Kings 3:14)
If you were a newly appointed ministry leader for your church, a supervisor at work, a new president or director for a school club, or any other leadership position, what would you pray to God for?
By 1 Kings 3, shortly after King David’s death, his son, Solomon took the throne of Israel. The newly crowned King Solomon prayed in a way that “pleased the Lord” (v. 10). How so?
Solomon admitted that he was still young and inexperienced (v. 7). He prayed to God, “So give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil” to “administer justice” (v. 9,11). Pray to be a teachable leader. You’ll learn a lot from those leading you and those you lead. We all have unique gifts and experiences, and by sharing these with others, we can teach others who God is and what He can do.
God chose Solomon to be king among countless other men, and Solomon recognized this (v. 8). Acknowledge that God is in control as you lead, whether you feel excited or nervous about your new role.
Because Solomon’s prayer was pleasing to God, God gave him what he asked for and more. God only asked Solomon to walk in His ways and keep His statutes and commandments (v. 14).
If you’re feeling anxious about taking on a new leadership role, remember that God worked through Solomon, the author of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. May we ourselves pray like Solomon, asking the Lord for receptive hearts and discernment, and to walk in His ways as we lead. Let’s pray to be godly leaders to the people God entrusted us with.
As we lead, may we follow the example of our perfect leader, Jesus Christ. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords who led His flock with a sacrificial love, who came not to be served but to serve, giving up his life to pay for our sins so that we would have eternal life in God’s kingdom.