That Doesn't Just HappenSample

Excellence Starts With Leadership

One of the first lessons I learned from my hard working parents is that, if you’re going to do something, always do it well and finish what you started. If you’re going to perform shoddy work or do something in a half-hearted manner, then you are doing others and yourself a disservice. Years later, I can still hear Mom’s voice calling, “Do it right or don’t do it at all.” My mother wasn’t being mean; she was helping me learn for a lifetime.

King David, Solomon’s father and a leader after God’s own heart, had that same kind of parental concern for Solomon. David cared about his country and wanted to set up his son to succeed. But David had a heavy burden on his heart. He felt strongly that Israel needed a central place of worship: a place that would honor God with excellence. So, David pulled all his resources together and called in favors from all of the contacts he had made over the years.

One of the biggest supporters of this unprecedented building project would be Tyre’s King Hiram—the supplier of the finest wood used to build the temple in Jerusalem. David would import other fine materials, but he also stockpiled gold, silver, bronze, the finest carved limestone blocks, ivory, and textiles.

David set the tone of excellence for Solomon just as my parents did for me. A culture of excellence doesn’t just happen. It is intentional, and it starts with leadership. Whoever is at the top, whether a parent, spiritual mentor, or leader, must establish the tone, set the example, and plan the execution. Then they must trust those they have trained to carry out the mission. Maybe you’re a David, trying to pass down a standard of excellence. Or maybe you’re more like Solomon and you have been asking for wisdom to complete with excellence the task you’ve been given.

The question is: With what have you been entrusted and what are you doing with it?