January 31, 2023
Solomon
Beloved one we can learn a lot from Solomon. He made a lot of costly mistakes in a lot of his Kingship because of his vain pursuits to try to satisfy himself. (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11) He is a great example to us of a leader who did not know how to get what he wanted. By the time he wrote the book of Solomon, He had finally reached a high level of success but felt so empty inside. He couldn’t put his finger on why fulfillment continually escaped him. He lacked focus. He kept trying to chase two rabbits at a time, and he couldn’t catch either one of them. He searched high and low setting all kinds of goals, yet he could not achieve satisfaction. As so many do, he tried to solve an inward problem with an outside solution. He set eight goals in Ecclesiastes 2 that he was focused on.
Friend, I can tell you in all your worldly pursuits there is nothing that will satisfy your soul like an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and putting Him first in all you do. (Joshua 1:7-9, Proverbs 3:5-6) I’ve known success in three businesses through the years, but God was the first place in every business I ever had. God first, family second, and business third. I am grateful I was taught to do that at a young age.
Another thing I learned around the age of 50, I always have at least three people who are God-fearing men, with wisdom, and integrity, whom I can call and ask for their advice. Before I call, I have already prayed and asked the Holy Spirit and received my answer. Checking in with them either confirms what I need to do or not do. It has prevented me from making a lot of mistakes. I can tell you there is nothing comparable to knowing Christ and making Him your priority. Why? Because it is God who gives you and me the power and ability to have success. (Deuteronomy 8:18) What can we learn from Solomon:
1. He pursued too many things in a small amount of time.
2. He pursued the wrong goals to reach his desired outcome.
3. His self-serving goals were all wrong.
4. He had despair because he never identified what he really wanted.
Eventually, he did narrow his focus, but it took him a lifetime and an entire book to discover his problem. (Ecclesiastes 12) He finally realized what really mattered and what he really wanted. How about you? Have you figured out where you need to put your focus? How do you make major decisions? Do you have a way of deciding what really matters? When you are making decisions consider this:
1. Is this consistent with my priorities?
2. Is this within my area of competence?
3. Can someone else do it better?
4. What do my trusted friends say?
5. Do I have the time?
When you say yes to an opportunity, get ready to focus. Make to-do lists. Set your priorities. Avoid clutter. Pursue excellence and avoid perfectionism. Question everything. Don’t procrastinate. Control distractions. Use a calendar. Don’t try to do everything. Hire an assistant who is gifted with what you are not gifted to do. You will have to say No to some things. Say No to the proposition, not the person. You can be all you ever want to be and do by applying these secrets of Solomon.
