It Takes A Team

1 Kings  4:1-19   (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Kings 4:1-19.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

1 Kings 4:1-19 (NIV)
¹  So King Solomon ruled over all Israel.
²  And these were his chief officials: Azariah son of Zadok–the priest;
³  Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha–secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud–recorder;
⁴  Benaiah son of Jehoiada–commander in chief; Zadok and Abiathar–priests;
⁵  Azariah son of Nathan–in charge of the district officers; Zabud son of Nathan–a priest and personal adviser to the king;
⁶  Ahishar–in charge of the palace; Adoniram son of Abda–in charge of forced labor.
⁷  Solomon also had twelve district governors over all Israel, who supplied provisions for the king and the royal household. Each one had to provide supplies for one month in the year.
⁸  These are their names: Ben-Hur–in the hill country of Ephraim;
⁹  Ben-Deker–in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh and Elon Bethhanan;
¹⁰  Ben-Hesed–in Arubboth (Socoh and all the land of Hepher were his);
¹¹  Ben-Abinadab–in Naphoth Dor (he was married to Taphath daughter of Solomon);
¹²  Baana son of Ahilud–in Taanach and Megiddo, and in all of Beth Shan next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah across to Jokmeam;
¹³  Ben-Geber–in Ramoth Gilead (the settlements of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead were his, as well as the district of Argob in Bashan and its sixty large walled cities with bronze gate bars);
¹⁴  Ahinadab son of Iddo–in Mahanaim;
¹⁵  Ahimaaz–in Naphtali (he had married Basemath daughter of Solomon);
¹⁶  Baana son of Hushai–in Asher and in Aloth;
¹⁷  Jehoshaphat son of Paruah–in Issachar;
¹⁸  Shimei son of Ela–in Benjamin;
¹⁹  Geber son of Uri–in Gilead (the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and the country of Og king of Bashan). He was the only governor over the district.

On verses 1-19:  What can we learn from this list of officials in Solomon’s court?  Here we see that King Solomon “ruled over all Israel” (v1) by delegating different parts of the kingdom to various people whom he trusted to help him govern the kingdom well (v2-19).  What can we learn from this?

1.  When the project is too large for any one person to handle, a wise leader will delegate different responsibilities to trustworthy individuals.  As a church or any organization grows, it takes not just one individual but a strong and excellent team to lead it.  That’s why we like to say that the “T” in “THRIVE” stands for Team, and every Thriver is a part of that team.  Similarly, as the number of responsibilities you manage grows, it’s important to ask yourself:  what is one area of responsibility in my life where it would be more effective for me to delegate, outsource or at least seek advice rather than you trying to figure it all out by myself?

2.  God wants to involve His children in helping rule His kingdom.  As Luke 19:11-26 illustrates, God wants to give trustworthy servants parts of His kingdom to rule on His behalf.  You and I were made to reign with God (Romans 5:17; 2 Timothy 2:12).  But how much God entrusts to us will depend on how trustworthy you are with what you have now.  Do your best with what you have right now, and one day God will give you cities to manage.

Father, I pray I would be a faithful and trustworthy manager of all that You have given me, understanding that You are preparing me for even greater responsibility in the future.  Please give me wisdom to know what parts of what I do I can delegate to others for greater effectiveness.   Thank You for everything and the trust You have in me!  In Jesus’ name, AMEN!