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Wisdom of King Solomon
Perks and privileges usually accompany successful leadership. Many leaders enjoy being in charge, making decisions that affect the organization, occupying a corner office, “running the show,” having others defer to them in meetings, and the like. As one gets ahead, it’s hard not to get a big head.
As a leader, King Solomon enjoyed all these perks and much more. Like few leaders before or since, he had wealth, power, wisdom, and plenty of servants. In fact, other rulers traveled long distances to listen to his wisdom. Yet from this lofty position, Solomon cautioned:
Follow Jesus’ Example
Paul urges us to follow the example of Jesus in Philippians 2:5-11. From this passage, we learn three things about Jesus who models the true essence of humility:
- When Jesus could have clung to the outer expression of his divinity, he instead took the form of a servant. A humble leader doesn’t flaunt his or her position power.
- Jesus demonstrated obedience to God the Father. A humble leader doesn’t impose his or her will on God but submits to God’s commands.
- Jesus waited for his Father to lift him up. A humble leader doesn’t grab for power or position…but waits patiently (see my October 22 post on Patience) for God to increase his or her influence.
Further, Jesus himself summarized his mission statement with these words: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). It is one thing to claim to be a servant and another to be treated as one. Jesus Christ, the most powerful man ever to walk on the face of the earth, was also the most humble man who ever lived. His agenda was never to promote himself but to please his Father by loving and serving others.
As the perfect example of godly leadership, Jesus set the perfect example for humility. Because he knew who he was, Jesus was secure enough to serve others.
In what ways does your understanding of your identity relate to humility in your life? Maybe like me, you need to ask God to help you follow Jesus’ example, as you seek to demonstrate the kind of humility that will cause others to see Jesus in you.
Lessons from the Early Church’s Desert Monks
The desert fathers were a group of monks in the early church who left everything and voluntarily went into the desert to seek a greater relationship with God. Even they struggled with the battle of pride and humility. Thomas Merton, in The Wisdom of the Desert, wrote, “There was a certain brother who was praised by all the others in the presence of Abbot Anthony, but when the elder tested him he found that he could not bear to be insulted. Then Abbot Anthony said, ‘You, brother, are like a house with a big strong gate, that is freely entered by robbers through all the windows.’”
The desert fathers were not the first to struggle with the destructive power of pride—and they certainly were not the last. Our successes, which demonstrate our strengths, turn and destroy us if we fail to realize where the success actually comes from. Abbot Anthony teaches us that the stronger the gate, the bigger the windows!
