What are your priorities? (110-2)

What a leader accomplishes is determined by their priorities. This is true of what you accomplish today because you will put your efforts to the items you determine are more important and it is true of life accomplishments because you will focus your energy on those life goals you determine are important. Read 2 Chronicles 1:1-12.

Solomon has become king of Israel, replacing his father David. The nation’s expectations were high. God’s blessings had been given to David. David had been a leader of the stature of Abraham and Moses, and the country and the people had benefited greatly from David’s leadership. Solomon’s life priorities would determine his first acts as king.

God had promised David that He would bless Solomon and Solomon knew of that promise. One night early in his leadership of the nation, God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask! What shall I give you?” Solomon had the right to ask for anything that he desired. Starting his leadership in a nation that had military power and wealth, Solomon could have chosen to focus on power or riches or fame. He could have asked for help with extremely difficult tasks that were just ahead of him i.e. building the temple. Instead he asked for wisdom and knowledge so he could glorify God in how he led God’s people.

This incident illustrates how effective prioritization works. Because Solomon’s requests were not self-centered but God-centered, God responded by rewarding him not only with the thing he asked for, but also all the benefits he didn’t request. When a leader puts first things first, the non-essentials naturally follow the essentials.

Will we all receive the physical riches of Solomon for making the right decisions? Maybe! In my personal experience every leader that gets their priorities right based on God’s standards receives gifts much greater than physical wealth; we can experience joy, peace, and love in our daily lives. We can demonstrate kindness, gentleness, goodness, and faithfulness in our actions to our team, family and friends. We become patient and have self-control which honors God in our actions. Right priorities bring right results.