Few things are more difficult for a leader than to give a firm rebuke to a team member. Yet there are times when confrontation is the most loving thing a leader can do for another person. Read 2 Kings 20:16-19a.

Hezekiah was one of only two kings in Judah who completely followed the Lord. In the days of Esarhaddon, King of Assyria, Hezekiah became ill to the point of death. Hezekiah poured out his heart to God in prayer and God graciously granted him an extra 15 years of life.

A leader’s character is always on trial. If we do not build character and keep working at maintaining that character we will become ineffective and unproductive in our leadership. Read 1 Kings 11:1-13.

1 Kings 10:23 says, “King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings on earth. The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.” There has never been another leader that had the splendor Solomon had during his reign as king of Israel. Yet, at the height of his leadership, Solomon compromised his commitments to God through his marriages to foreign women.

Professional athletes and coaches are committed to excellence because they want to win championships. Corporate executives are committed to excellence because they want to please customers and increase profits. These can be good motives. But as followers of Christ the motive that drives a leader to excellence should be a desire to please the One who will give us our final reward. Everything we do should be done with a conscious awareness of His presence, a realization that He is watching. Read 1 Kings 10:1-13.

Solomon had been king of Israel about 20 years. He had completed the construction of several magnificent buildings including the Temple of God and his personal palace. His fame for wisdom and understanding had spread throughout the known world. As with any account that seems too amazing to be true, some of the leaders of other nations determined to pay Israel a visit to meet Solomon for themselves. One such visitor was the queen of Sheba.

Kindness and compassion are looked at by some in society as signs of weakness in a leader. Truly effective leaders can hardly function without them. Read Ruth 2:4-17.

Boaz was a wealthy, influential landowner and farmer from Bethlehem. He was a respected leader in his community. Did you notice that the first words out of his mouth when Boaz came out to check on the progress of the harvesters were “The Lord be with you”? He gave a blessing to his workers and they enthusiastically called back “The Lord bless you.” From their response they knew something about this man, his relationship with God and how he treated people.