Build people, don't use them

Online Bible study

By Tayo Onaleye

Focus: The book of 1Kings

Passage: 1Kings 9.15

1Ki 9:15 And this is the reason of the *levy* which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the LORD, *and his own house*, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer

*LEADERSHIP LESSON: DON'T USE PEOPLE, BUILD THEM*

Solomon was an extremely wise king. God gave him unusual economic and political insight in many ways.

Solomon was the one who laid the foundation of *taxation* as a means of generating massive income for government.

He built a phenomenal temple and personal mansion all from the proceeds of *an efficient tax system.*

There had been various forms of taxation and levies before him but he took it to a whole new level and systematised it.

  There are economies that run today primarily on the effectiveness of taxation.

It can be traced back to Solomon.

*But Solomon made a very big mistake*.........

*He used his office as king to serve personal interests*

A major reason why God put Solomon in office was to build the temple David conceived.

1Chron 29.1-9

Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, *Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen*, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.

Now I have prepared with all my might *for the house of my God* the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver........

 6  Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly,

 7  And gave *for the service of the house of God* of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams,........

David raised a massive offering for the building of the temple.

This offering was handed over to Solomon.

Solomon added to it through taxes.

So he had massive resources and built a great temple.

*But Solomon went beyond building the temple.*

*He became obsessed with building a mansion for himself.*

In fact, he spent 7 years build the house of God but 13 years building his own mansion!🙊🙉

1Ki 6:38 .......So was he seven years in building it. 

1Ki 7:1  *But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.*

He spent more time, energy and resources in building his personal mansion than the house for God!😳🙈

The only way Solomon could sustain his personal mansion project was to *tax people heavily*

1Ki 9:15  *And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised*; for to build the house of the LORD, and *his own house*, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer

Solomon's personal house was not part of the original agenda when David his father raised the public offering.

But along the line........

*Solomon added his own personal house to the agenda* and sustained that agenda by placing heavy financial burdens on the people!

This later backfired after the death of Solomon.

2Chron 10

3.......and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying,

 4  Thy father (Solomon) made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the *grievous servitude* of thy father, and his *heavy yoke* that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.

Eventually the people revolted and Rehoboam, Solomon's son, lost the kingdom!

*APPLICATION*

*1. God's greatest priority is His kingdom and not our private empires.*

Stay on His agenda. Don't add to it.

*2. Don't divert God's resources for His work to private projects.*

There is no difference between a politician who diverts public funds to private use and a leader who diverts kingdom resources to private use. They are both robbers.

*3. Raise leaders.*

Solomon was groomed by David but Solomon failed to groom a successor for the throne.

Leadership is not about raising followers but reproducing more leaders.

Succession is a crucial test of leadership.

Who are you grooming?

Who do you have to show?

Who have you raised?

Who have you developed?

*4. Build people, don't use them.*

Solomon started so well with a heart to serve the people just like David his father.

But along the line he became obsessed with himself and the whole kingdom revolved around him.

*He lost sight of the real reason why God placed him on the throne.........to serve people.*

Instead of serving people Solomon ended up making people to serve him.

True leadership is not using people to achieve your objectives but rather building people to fulfill God's objectives.

*Don't use people. Build them.*