1 Chronicles 28:9, 10  “And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. So take this seriously. The Lord has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work.” (NLT)

1 Chronicles 28:19, 20 “Every part of this plan,” David told Solomon, “was given to me in writing from the hand of the Lord.” Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.” (NLT)

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The final two chapters of 1 Chronicles describe how King David set up Solomon for success. Wise words, God-given assignments, extravagant gifts, and supportive officials were aligned. 

Encouragement, and this means the full value of this word, focused Solomon’s attention on who God is and what he desires from us and for us. 

Solomon had all he needed to begin well. He had everyone he needed for wise counsel and effective execution. He had every resource necessary to build something bigger than everyone before him and anyone who would come after him until the King of Kings showed up one day. 

 My coworker and I are consulting with a church whose pastor is planning to transition into a different ministry a few years from now. He is laying the groundwork for the church as a whole and for his successor so that the most important metrics continue to chart up and to the right after he is gone. 

This requires leaders to trust God. It requires humility. It requires good planning and timely implementation. It requires long-term commitment and daily responsibility. Churches and businesses following these steps succeed longer and better on average than their peers. 

Where are you in your leadership journey? Who will follow you in your role? How are you preparing the way for them today no matter how far off that transition is? 

Nothing changes ultimately, we have heard, until we change something we do daily. Today is a good day to prepare the way for whoever will succeed us. 

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I will prepare the way for my successor to suceed.

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Our Father, my job is not mine to keep. I am a steward of this role at this time under your direction. Show me the way I should prepare the way day by day. Show me the day I should step away. Show me how to transition so well that my best day on the job is when I had over the keys and provide the best possible beginning for the best leader yet in this role. Amen.