A leader who can solve problems will have influence. We would like to believe that this influence would be positive but that is not always the case. When a leader solves problems from a core of bad character or with the wrong motivation and selfish ambition they will become a negative influence. Read Genesis 16:1-16.

Abraham and Sarah had a problem. They were past the child bearing age and Sarah was barren. God had promised them offspring that would grow to be as numerous as the sands of the seashore and the stars in the sky. It did not appear God’s promise could be fulfilled unless Sarah took matters into her own hands. Sarah saw the problem and felt compelled to solve it. Sarah decided that God’s promise to Abraham could be solved through a child from her servant Hagar.

God delegated responsibility for a task and the authority to complete the task to man. Read Genesis 1:26-28 and 2:18-20.

When God asked man to do a job, He gave him all the authority needed to complete the assignment. Man was not completely tested nor trained when God assigned him dominion over His creation. God allowed man to make decisions that He did not overrule. Could God have done it better? Yes! Was God still in charge even though man was making some independent decisions? Yes! Was there a chance that man would somehow fumble the assignment? Yes, in fact that is exactly what happened.