The Necessity of an Understanding Heart

So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours? – 1 Kings 3:9

At the very beginning of his tenure as king of Israel, Solomon lifted a very public prayer and in it we see the necessity of obedience to the success of a Christian leader’s service. Solomon, as the leader of God’s people, would also serve as their judge, often having to discern between good and evil. Knowing his own inadequacies and failings, Solomon asked God for an understanding heart in order that he might judge rightly.

If it is true that effective leadership rises out of a foundational understanding of God’s character and attributes, shouldn’t we also be asking for understanding hearts? Leader, I beg you, forget more resources, cast off more programs or strategies and grow in the knowledge of Christ Jesus. All other tools in the leadership belt may come and go, but our ability to lead will not be hindered if we remain submitted to the guiding principles of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To succeed as a leader, you must first learn from the Master.

Why do you need a voice when you have a verse? – Jim Elliott