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This article was originally published in Edition (4) of Prayer Magazine, Autumn 2005. That night God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” Solomon replied to God, “You have been so faithful and kind to my father, David, and now you have made me king in his place. Now, LORD God, please keep your promise to David my father, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth! Give me wisdom and knowledge to rule them properly, for who is able to govern this great nation of yours?” 2 Chronicles 1.7-10 NLT This encounter between Solomon and God is so important we read about it twice in the Old Testament. Once in 2 Chronicles and once in 1 Kings. God offers Solomon anything he wants and Solomon’s heartfelt and genuine answer is that he wants wisdom and knowledge in order to become a better leader of the people that God has entrusted him with. In 1 Kings the request is described as: ‘an understanding mind so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong’ . Now I want you to answer this question honestly to yourself! If God was to appear in a dream to you tonight and said to you: “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” What would your answer be? Great achievement? Personal prosperity? Family security? Fame? Solomon’s prayer request to God focused on his ability as a leader and as God’s servant. Even if your answer to God centred on your leadership, what would you have asked for? Charisma? A world-wide ministry? More resources? A new building? More followers? Powerful preaching? How many of us would have wisdom and knowledge, or an understanding mind, at the top of our personal prayer requests as leaders? Solomon reasoned that if God would give him even a fraction of His own infinite wisdom then servant leadership would become so much more fruitful. In fact, he recognised that leadership of God’s people would be virtually impossible without it! God was so pleased with Solomon’s answer that as well as wisdom he vowed to give Solomon honour and riches: God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for personal wealth and honour or the death of your enemies or even a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people, I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. And I will also give you riches, wealth, and honour such as no other king has ever had before you or will ever have again!” 2 Chronicles 1.11-12 NLT It seems clear to me that recognition, respect, and reward may come our way as a fortunate result of leadership, although not necessarily, but if we place them as our main priorities then we miss the whole point of the privilege and responsibility of servant leadership. We are leaders first of all to lead God’s people wisely and in the ways that the Lord wants us to. At times that challenge can be daunting and seemingly insurmountable unless we desperately pursue Godly wisdom as Solomon did. Here’s a final challenge for you. 1 Corinthians 12 encourages us that we have ‘the mind of Christ’. Read this chapter and meditate upon it. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you more of the mind of Christ, and the supernatural wisdom that comes with it, so that you may be able to ‘properly govern’ the people that God has called you to lead. Nigel James. (Nigel James is a director of Ignite – a youth ministry based out of Cardiff – you can visit their website www.igniteme.org) If you like this article, why not subscribe to Prayer Magazine - Click here to Subscribe {LINK : https://www.prayermagazine.
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