Recently I was reminded of David’s charge to Solomon and his work as a leader. In 1 Chronicles 28:9 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. 10 Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.” (ESV)
In these verses, David charges Solomon with a calling or vision/mission. The mission was to build a house of worship. A wonderful calling that David was denied but was given to Solomon. David knew it was going to take courage and so he charges Solomon to “be strong and do it.” The courage was not a physical test, but instead it was internal. Solomon needed strength as a leader to make sure his motivation was in check. To make sure the process of fulfilling a calling did not turn away from glorifying God and to edifying himself. (we know that Solomon eventually failed this test.)
David provides an insight into the critical area of a leader. Before you discuss a vision, a leader must first check their motivation. David wanted Solomon to know this truth because he reminded Solomon that God “searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought”. For leaders this means that the calling or vision could be super spiritual such as building a house of worship, but if the motivation is wrong the mission can be derailed.
Today, leaders are tested in the same way. We have visions of reaching the community, nation and world for Christ. We have a mission to end poverty, or to stop sex trafficking. All are great missions and callings, but the leader must constantly check their motivation. It takes a strong leader to not allow the vision to become about them instead of the people they are serving or most of all about the God they were made to glorify.
