Christian leaders should constantly be asking, “What does God say?” Read 2 Samuel 5:17-25.

Leaders constantly seek to know what resources they have available. They are constantly searching for and trying to attract competent people. They set target dates and check points, establish lines of communication, determine the evaluation process, create budgets and timelines and the list goes on and on. Every one of these activities is critical to effective leadership. Too often, however, even godly Christian leaders forget to ask, “What does God say?” David discovered the importance of this question when the Philistine army massed to challenge his right to rule as the new king over all of Israel.

Leaders set the emotional environment for those who follow them and will give their team courage or fear. Read 1 Samuel 31:7.

During a battle between the Israelite army and the Philistine army, King Saul and all of his sons were killed. In one battle the accepted leadership of the nation was gone. Without a trusted leader to give direction, the people were overcome with fear and anxiety. They actually took their families, left their homes and possessions behind, and ran for safety.

Healthy alliances are critical if a leader is to achieve their potential. When a leader works harder they only “add” to their output, when a leader works through healthy alliances they “multiply” their output. Read 1 Samuel 30:26-30.

By distributing part of the plunder to the elders in various parts of Israel, David wisely promoted goodwill with potential allies. He understood the importance of planning for the future and building relationships based upon trust and mutual benefit that would serve him well in the years ahead. Leaders who look for strong alliances (relationships) can build a store of relational resources that can be of immeasurable value in times of change or crisis. Given the choice, few leaders would opt for isolation.

Proverbs 16:11 (tlb) says, “The Lord demands fairness in every business deal. He established this principle.” Effective leaders live by this standard. Read 1 Samuel 30:1-25.

David and his men returned home from a military effort to find their homes burned, their possessions stolen and their families kidnapped. David asked the Lord what he should do and God gave David assurance that he would be able to overtake the perpetrators and get his family and possessions back. During the pursuit approximately one third of the men could no longer keep up the pace so the other two thirds stripped off their extra gear to lighten their load, left it with those that could not go on and moved quickly to get their families and possessions back. Just as God had foretold, they did catch up to the raiders, defeated them and took back their possessions and families.

If you have been in leadership long, conflict is a word you understand but dread. I am not talking about a disagreement over certain facts or a misunderstanding because of poor communication or an organizational snafu because of a bad decision, but real conflict. A philosophical difference that goes to the core of two or more individuals that has festered and now has the emotions tangled up with the facts so that every word and action is misunderstood, misinterpreted, and brought under scrutiny to such a degree that there appears to be no way to resolve the conflict. Read 1 Samuel 26.

Saul was the reigning king of Israel. Samuel the prophet had informed Saul that because of his actions of disobedience to God the kingdom would be removed from him and his family line. Saul also knew that Samuel had anointed David to be the future king. And, even though David was not trying to assert himself and “take” the throne, Saul saw David’s every action as a threat to himself and his family. There was real conflict between Saul and David to the point that if Saul had anything to say about it, David would be killed.