Seasons of adversity have a way of revealing a leader’s true character. Integrity would mean that what a leader professes in times of abundance is matched by what they do when abundance is stripped away. Read Job 1:1-2:10.

In a very short period of time Job went from a very wealthy, powerful leader with vast possessions and a wonderful family to a man who had all his property stolen, his entire family killed in a storm and his body so infected with painful sores that it looked like he would die. Job’s personal integrity became evident in this time of multiple trials; he maintained his faith in God in spite of great personal loss.

In the Bible, the book of Proverbs reads like a manual for dealing with people. It should be on every leaders list of “must read” material every year. I recommend that you pick a month with 31 days and read a chapter a day each day that month. As the Proverbs unfold, among other great advice, leaders will find a recurring theme, they should pray for growth in wisdom, common sense, good judgment, knowledge and understanding. Today our study shows the application of wisdom by a leader that we can all learn from. Read 2 Samuel 20:14-22.

As the people were re-establishing David as king following the defeat of his son’s attempted overthrow of his government, “…a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bicri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted, ‘We have no share in David, no part in Jesse’s son! Every man to his tent, O Israel!’ So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bicri” (20:1-2a). David knew a split in the nation between his tribe, Judah, and his predecessor Saul’s tribe of Benjamin would do more harm than the rebellion of his own son so when David returned to the palace in Jerusalem he summoned the commander of the army and sent him after Sheba to put down this revolt with force.