Solomon’s Wisdom PART 1
A lazy person will become poor, but diligent hands will bring wealth (Proverbs 10:4).
In the upcoming weeks, we’ll be diving into King Solomon’s business principles. The main reason is that I’ve been fascinated by them and am surprised we don’t cover them annually.
Well, here’s the exciting part: you’ll be learning them from me! If business isn’t your cup of tea, no worries!
Just kidding! Even if business isn’t your thing, these principles are incredibly valuable for all aspects of life. Whether it’s managing finances, choosing a career path, or how you approach daily tasks, these principles apply across the board. You might be thinking, “Well, I’m retired,” or “I’m a stay-at-home parent.” That’s fantastic—these principles are still applicable to your everyday life. So, let’s dive in!
Let’s begin by exploring some key FACTS about Solomon. Firstly, he was renowned for his wisdom. In 1 Kings, he offered sacrifices to God, who then appeared to him in a dream, offering to grant Solomon any request he desired—whether it be wealth, power, land, or riches. However, Solomon’s response was unexpected…
Rather than requesting wealth or power, Solomon asked for WISDOM. God was pleased with this selfless request and personally granted Solomon great wisdom because he didn’t seek selfish rewards like long life or the downfall of his enemies.
One of the most famous demonstrations of his wisdom is seen in the Judgment of Solomon (1 Kings 3:16-28), where two women both claimed to be the mother of the same child. Solomon ingeniously resolved the dispute by suggesting to cut the child in half and share it between them, revealing the true mother’s love and prompting Solomon’s wise decision to preserve the child’s life.
One of the women quickly withdrew her claim, demonstrating that she would rather give up the child than see it harmed. Recognizing her compassion, Solomon declared her the true mother, granting her full custody of the child.
Traditionally, Solomon is credited as the author of several biblical books, including not only Proverbs but also Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon, along with the later apocryphal book, the Wisdom of Solomon (which is not included in the Bible).
Enough about his credentials—let’s delve into his teachings! Are you excited? Because I definitely am! Solomon lived by ten fundamental principles. The first one is: Be Diligent and Work Hard. “A slack hand leads to poverty, but the hand of the diligent brings wealth” (Proverbs 10:4). There’s no substitute for a strong work ethic.
Some perceive business owners after they’ve achieved success and assume that progressing in business or life must be effortless. However, those in the field understand that establishing and managing a successful business demands more effort than any other profession. Additionally, there’s the weight of responsibility, especially when supporting a family, which comes with its own set of fears.
What if things don’t go as planned? What if I fail? What if…? These uncertainties aren’t for those lacking a strong dedication to work. As Solomon noted in Proverbs 20:4, “The lazy person will not plow during the planting season; at harvest time they look, but find nothing.”
While hard work is crucial, it’s not the only factor for success. Many believe that working harder is the key to success, but the reality is that working smarter is essential. This mindset may take some time to adjust to. Personally, I grew up in a household that valued hard work. My dad was up and out the door before any of us kids woke up, and there were nights (although not many) when he returned home well after dark.
Afterward, he would tend to the cows and complete other chores before returning home to spend time with the family. I’m grateful for my dad’s hard work, and my mom worked even harder to ensure us kids didn’t drive each other crazy before he came home. Lol. However, this doesn’t mean it’s the only way to support your family.
As a business owner, I understand this well. Working long hours and struggling to find a stopping point can become all too familiar. Interestingly, when we immerse ourselves in something we’re passionate about, it doesn’t feel like work anymore.
Take Nathen, our son, for instance.
Nathen has a passion for TV, and you might be quick to judge us as parents because of that. However, your opinion doesn’t matter much to me since you don’t know the full story. Moving on…
Nathen is an amazing kid, and there was a phase when he was really interested in becoming a ventriloquist. Naturally, he dove headfirst into learning about it, watching numerous instructional videos to master the skill.
He practiced diligently, constantly improving his technique through repetition. The key with Nathen is that when he becomes interested in something, he dedicates a significant amount of time to learning, practicing, and eventually performing it.
Through his ventriloquism journey, Nathen realized that while he didn’t have a passion for ventriloquism itself, he absolutely loved making people laugh. The takeaway from this story is that when we embark on something new, we become enthusiastic, work hard, and acquire a wealth of knowledge about the subject. Solomon would agree—it’s a commendable trait.
Let’s Take Action!
Today, I want to inspire you to take action regarding your work ethic. Reflect on a project you initiated—did you see it through to completion? (If you’re anything like me, the answer might be “not always”! I tend to get a project to a functional stage and let it run rather than refining it.)
If you did finish, that’s fantastic! What motivated you to persist until completion? If not, what hindered your progress? It’s worth pondering these questions to improve your work ethic moving forward.
What insights did you gain from that project? Are there any adjustments you could make to streamline the process in the future?
As you approach your next project, what steps will you take to guarantee its completion or at least reach the “functional” stage? It’s valuable to reflect on these questions to enhance your project management strategies.
Enhance your faith-led leadership journey with God First Life Next. Explore empowering insights at “True Wisdom Is More Than Knowledge?“. Let faith guide your leadership. Click for purposeful living at GodFirstLifeNext.org.
