Humility in leadership is required by God but not always sought after by leaders. Consider professional football on Sunday afternoon in America – an athlete makes a great play and then goes into some rehearsed celebration that draws attention to their accomplishment. Even athletes that have been embarrassed on several plays leading up to their exemplary moment draw attention to the one play as if it summarized their entire performance. When modeling humility is “countercultural” humility needs to be a conscious core truth that controls a leader’s actions and is demonstrated in the leader’s life. Read 2 Samuel 7.

David was a very successful king in Israel. He had conquered most of the nations that had been warring against Israel, lived in a beautiful palace and now desired to build a temple that would house the Ark of the Covenant – the very symbol of God dwelling among the people of Israel. David sought out Nathan the prophet to inquire of God if he would be allowed to build a temple. The answer came back no but your son will build the temple and not only that but “I (God) will establish the throne of your kingdom forever.”