I know some incredibly powerful, wealthy people who are miserable. They are successful business people and strong leaders, yet despite their worldly success, they are unhappy.
They have vacation homes in resort destinations, as well as all the boats, planes, and automobiles they desire.
But they are still miserable.
It turns out succeeding in a material sense is no guarantee of happiness. I’m not surprised. Solomon, the wisest, richest man in the world, said,
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun? (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3)
Solomon tried to find meaning in hard-work, money, wealth, and pleasure. All to no avail. Describing his life’s work and all his accomplishments, he said everything is utterly meaningless.
Life, “under the sun,” as Solomon describes it, is hard.
Solomon’s Fallen World
Early in Solomon’s tenure as king of Israel, he asked God for wisdom to lead the people. God, pleased with Solomon’s selfless request, gave Solomon supernatural wisdom along with a promise of wealth and honor. If that wasn’t enough, God promised Solomon a long life. There was one stipulation to God’s promised blessings on Solomon’s life.
“…if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did…” (1 Kings 3:14)
So, for all this blessing from God, God only required that Solomon follow Him and obey Him as David had done.
For a while, Solomon followed God closely, and God blessed Solomon’s leadership of the people. There was peace in the land, and the people prospered. Everything for Solomon and the people of Israel was going just as God had promised.
Unfortunately, over time, Solomon drifted away from God (Those 700 wives and 300 concubines might have had something to do with it!). Solomon’s leadership focus shifted from God to pursuing money, fame, and pleasure. Ultimately, Solomon died a youthful 60-years old, leaving behind a nation embroiled in a civil war, soon to be conquered by their enemies.
Solomon is proof there is no guarantee of success or happiness, even for the richest, wisest, and strongest leaders among us.
Being Godly Leaders
So, how can we be Godly leaders in this fallen world? The answer lies in God’s admonition to Solomon. We must “walk in His ways and obey His statutes and commands.”
God asks just these three things of us if we desire His blessing on our leadership in this fallen world.
Walk in His Ways
The first thing God asks of us as Godly leaders is to “walk in His ways.” Well, what are His ways? If you study the references to God’s ways in the Old Testament, the recurring theme is to love justice, mercy, and righteousness.
The prophet Micah summed it up for us nicely, saying,
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
So, to walk in His ways is a call for us to emulate God’s love, justice, and mercy in our relationships with our fellow man. Oh, and stay humble, no matter how rich and powerful you become!
Obey His Statutes
The second thing God requires of us as Godly leaders is to obey His statutes. Statutes, as defined in the Old Testament, are civil enactments by God. They are God’s laws governing daily life and our relationship with God.
A notable example of God’s statutes is found in Deuteronomy 12, where God gives all the statutes for how the Israelites are to make and prepare sacrifices.
Obey His Commands
The third thing God requires of Godly leaders is to obey His commands. Commands, as they are defined in the Old Testament, are God’s specific directions or orders. Commandments are an order to do something or a “charge” given to us to watch over and keep. The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) are a notable example of God’s commandments.
Just Do It
Saying it is simple enough. “Walk in His ways and obey His statutes and commands.” Even understanding what God asks of us is pretty straightforward.
Living it out in our lives—now that’s the hard part!
Unless God is the center of your life, even the most “successful” leader is doomed to failure in God’s eyes.
Jesus affirmed the importance of having God in the center of our lives. Speaking to the worried disciples about how they would survive materially, Jesus said,
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
Being a leader with all the power, prestige, and material rewards that come with position can become an idol. An idol that, like in the case of Solomon, pulls you away from God.
The only way to be a Godly leader in a fallen world is to “Walk in His ways and obey His statutes and commands.” Or, as Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God.”
More Articles
I have written several articles on a leader’s wisdom. You can find them by typing “wisdom” in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are a few of my favorites.
- #329: Three Critical Elements of A Biblical Economic Model
- #230: How Does the Greek Worldview of Work Compare to the Biblical Worldview?
- #175: Responding to the Rabshakeh Who Tries to Destroy You or Your Organization
- #174: A Modern Day Rabshakeh Will Try to Destroy You and Your Organization
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. Do you know leaders who measure success in worldly terms but are failing as Godly leaders?
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Category: Personal Development | Wisdom
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