DCLM Daily Manna 11 January 2021 Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi
Topic: The Power Of Wisdom
Text: 2 Chronicles 2:1-10 (KJV)
1 And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.
2 And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.
3 And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me.
4 Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.
5 And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.
6 But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?
7 Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.
8 Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,
9 Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great.
10 And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.
Key Verse: “And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.” (2 Chronicles 2:10).
MESSAGE:
Automaker Henry Ford asked electrical genius Charles Steinmetz to build the generators for his factory. One day, the generators ground to a halt and the repairmen could not find the problem. So Ford called Steinmetz, who tinkered with the machines for a few hours and then switched it on. The generators whirred to life, but Ford got a bill of $10,000 from Steinmetz. Flabbergasted, the rather tightfisted carmaker inquired why the bill was so big. Steinmetz replied, “For tinkering with the generators, $10. For knowing where to tinker, $9,990”. Ford paid the bill.
Solomon was such an asset to Israel, especially in the early part of his reign. From our text, Huram the king of Tyre, praised the Lord for giving Israel a prudent and understanding leader to mobilise His people towards building the house of God. Solomon’s wisdom, no doubt, wins the day, especially the great success of building the temple. He mobilised the people into shifts to handle the work, to promote specialisation and division of labour. He equally wisely established friendly relations with the king of Tyre to have the needed timber shipped to Jerusalem in a trade by barter arrangement. Leadership is needed to ensure success in every project we undertake.
Victory in all the major world conflicts was achieved through strategic leadership. Success is not achieved solely because of availability of human and material resources. The entrepreneurial and prudential qualities of leaders ensure proper management and utilisation of available resources to achieve the set objectives. To sustain the success already achieved and to secure our future both in life and in eternity, we need God-fearing leaders who are good managers with wisdom.
Thought For Today: Leadership is key to success in life.
Bible Reading In One Year: Genesis 32 – 34
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
