Your most valuable asset is probably not what you think

Lately, I’ve been reading through some of my favorite books of the Bible, Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. These histories chronicle Israel's rise into a prosperous and powerful nation and their subsequent fall from glory. One can gain insight from the twists and turns of their history, and especially their leaders.

 The people of Israel frequently compared themselves to surrounding nations. If a kingdom was prospering, they tried to figure out why and then emulated their neighbors. Comparison prompted Israel to adopt various forms of pagan religions and foreign gods.  Their desire to gain prosperity from sources other than the one true God would be their demise.

 One of the significant developments, rooted in their comparison trap, was the people’s desire for a king.  They begged God to give them a king, like the surrounding nations. Although this was personally offensive to God, God relented and had a human king appointed. The first was Saul, who started great, but quickly took a fall. God removed him and established the greatest king in Israel’s history, David. God loved David because he was “a man after God’s own heart.” From David came the wisest person who ever lived, King Solomon. But, after Solomon, the kingdom quickly disintegrated. The nation divided into two parts, and each had a long series of kings, most of whom were terrible leaders. There were a few shining lights, but virtually every monarch experienced the same debilitating disease – pride. God opposes pride. God gives grace to the humble. Humility is your most valuable asset, especially if you are a leader. It is also one of the most challenging character traits to maintain. Here are a few lessons from this period of history.

 Comparing oneself to others causes feelings of entitlement.  Entitlement is rooted in pride. The thought process goes like this. “I’m as good as you, and I should have what you have.” Israel adopted this stance. They somehow came to believe neighboring nations were prosperous due in part to a monarchical system of government.  Theocracy was not good enough for them. So, God, being the patient and kind leader that He is, allowed them a king. With the appointment, God also explained the reality of living in a monarchy.  They would now pay more taxes to support the kingdom. Their children would be drafted into military service and die in wars. Their kings would lead them to places they did not and should not want to go. Good luck with that! It is best not to compare yourself to others. It is a prescription for strife, and it is rooted in pride. You are unique, and all you need to be just as you are.

 Pride comes when you get too much, too quickly. A significant number of the men appointed as king were very young. These twenty-something characters awakened one morning to find themselves a king. Most of them were already wealthy, and now they had power and position to go with it. Youth, wealth, and power are a formula for pride, resulting in disaster. Only a handful of young Kings avoided this malady. They remained humble and dependent upon God. The rest caused immeasurable damage to the entire nation. If you are a young leader, get people around you who will keep you humble.

 After King Solomon’s death, his son, Rehoboam, became king. Rehoboam was a very young man, and his newly found position and power intoxicated him. Soon after he came to power, a group of fellow Israelites asked the king to lighten the labor load they had experienced while serving Solomon. This request was the young man’s first big chance to exercise his leadership muscles.  He first consulted the older counselors who had given years of wise advice to Rehoboam’s father.  They advised a position of grace, kindness, and mercy.  Then, the young monarch consulted his young contemporaries, who were also drunk with their newfound power.  These young bucks recommended a harsh and demanding response. Pride listens to the wrong voices. It does not act with grace. It operates harshly.  Youthful leaders demonstrate their ego by consulting and following advisors that puff them up and make them feel powerful. Prideful leaders make foolish decisions that hurt others.

 Rehoboam’s decisions caused disastrous results.  Harsh treatment of his subjects caused a revolt that completely separated the nation. It caused numerous wars and immense misery. If you are in a position of power, do not let it go to your head.  Whether you are a parent, a pastor, or a CEO, regularly pray the God will keep you humble.  Your reputation with your spouse, children, friends, close co-workers, and those who possess wisdom will tell your Rehoboam story. Will you leave a trail of severity or grace?

 There is another prideful legacy demonstrated by the kings of Israel. Success breeds pride.  Our most dangerous moments are at the point of our most successful accomplishments. Though several kings experienced this phenomenon, King David is the poster child for the trappings of success.  David’s affair with the beautiful Bathsheba was a direct result of pride.  David had become one of the most successful Kings in the ancient world. God had blessed him on every side.  But, for a devastating season, David allowed his success to bloat his ego like a washed-up whale on the beach. Biblical history explains that, at a time of year when David should have been leading his army, he stayed home and enjoyed the trappings of his success.  One of those trappings included his penchant for beautiful women. No matter if they were married to one of his most devoted military leaders.  David came to believe he deserved whatever he wanted.  God disagreed. David’s decision to exploit his success caused a sword of strife to enter his family.  Brothers killed brothers.  Hatred and jealously marked his lineage.  David's curse did not end until the birth of Jesus Christ, who was of David’s bloodline. This was God’s punishment for David’s pride. Success breeds pride. Your most successful season is also your most dangerous.

 There is another prideful trap that ensnared some of the kings of Israel. One of the greatest of all the kings was Hezekiah.  The historical writer declared that Hezekiah followed the Lord wholeheartedly nearly all of his life.  The final verdict on his life was that he was a great man and a successful king except for one season.  Listen to the record. “In those days, Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the Lord, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign. But Hezekiah’s heart was proud, and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore, the Lord’s wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.” Developing a bloated narrative of your legacy causes pride, even in your old age.

 Hezekiah was a very successful person.  But his achievement was the result of God’s blessing, not his power and understanding. This man’s sense of his legacy caused him to be ungrateful for God's more excellent work in his life. I have a saying.  “If you got it, and it is good, it came from God.” If you’ve served as a faithful parent or been a good boss for a long time. If your company has experienced success or your organization has prospered under your leadership.  Don’t let your sense of the past cause you to become ungrateful for the present. Legacy should not be a source of pride. It should be a well-spring of thanksgiving.

 Fortunately, Hezekiah’s story ends well.  The writer tells us that Hezekiah “repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore, the Lord’s wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.” 

 So, what do you consider your most valuable asset?  Your smarts, your education, your wealth, your patience, your perseverance, your influential position, your giftedness, etc. It seems to me that your most important asset is your humility.  The fruit of a genuinely humble person is beyond calculation. Pray that God’s makes and keeps you humble. Then you will be usable in God’s hands.  And God can do some pretty amazing things through some of the most unlikely people.