2 Chronicles 9:12  King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for; he gave her more than she had brought to him. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country. (NIV)

2 Chronicles 10:7  They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.” (NIV)

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You can be kind, or not. Each choice has its consequences. 

King Solomon gave more to the Queen of Sheba than she had brought to him. Kindness is closely related to generosity. A kind and generous soul always abounds in wise and charitable friends. 

Scroll down the page a bit to verse 23. It says, 

“All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.”

The Queen of Sheba led the way in seeking Solomon’s wisdom, and a whole line of other potentates followed, wanting to learn from Solomon. 

Solomon was kind and generous. His son was not. 

Turn the page to the next chapter. Find verse 7. You see Solomon’s son Rehoboam receive the wisdom of his father’s advisors about those who had come to him seeking some relief from the heavy tasks Solomon had assigned them. 

Here’s what the advisors said:

They replied, “If you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”
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“If you will be kind . . .”

You can read what happened for yourself. Here’s what you’ll discover: Rehoboam was not kind. He was a jerk. He very nearly lost everything because he was not kind and generous like his father. 

Great leaders are kind and generous. If you and I do not lead with kindness and generosity, we are not really leading, and we may not lead for long. Proverbs 16:32 tells us it’s better to be patient than powerful. It’s better to be kind than harsh. It’s better to be generous than stingy. 

These are good leadership lessons to take to heart. 

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I will lead with kindness and generosity. 

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Our Father, you have given me positions of leadership across these many years. I have behaved like Rehoboam on a few occasions and deeply regret it. Please forgive me. Make me more like Solomon in these stories and not Solomon in those stories of sinful extravagance. Make me ever more kind, generous, and patient. Amen.