The Cost of Chasing Power

Weekday Posts
Written By Dean Collins

There was drama leading up to Solomon’s appointment as David’s successor. Reading through Samuel and Kings, you see the challenges of jealousy as various sons took a run at the throne. Living in the king’s household unfortunately didn’t create a servant’s heart. It only caused David’s sons to thirst for more power and control. The words of Jesus regarding being hot or cold and not lukewarm flow backwards, relate to us, and project into the future. In God’s kingdom there is no place for power seekers. The life of Jesus is a life surrendered to serving others.

The first 11 chapters of 1 Kings tells the tragic story of King Solomon. For most of my spiritual pilgrimage, I have heard preachers and Bible teachers praise Solomon for his wisdom. We all know the story of how he handled the situation with the two women who claimed to be the mother of the baby who had survived birth. And we often praise Solomon’s prayer for wisdom, and then we move onto Proverbs and enjoy the little bits and pieces of wisdom contained there.

What we often fail to remember or pay attention to is the sad reality of Solomon’s disobedience in idol worship, marrying foreign wives, and his obsession with women in general. At the end of Solomon’s life, God told him that because of his disobedience the kingdom would be torn from him. The result was a divided kingdom with his son, Rehoboam, becoming king of Judah, and he fought with the rival king Jeroboam through the years.

When power is what you seek, then strife, jealousy, revolt, and anger come with the package. Only those who are willing to follow the ways of Jesus through humble service find peace and can bring peace to others.

Father, may we learn from the mistakes of Solomon and choose the life of humility and wisdom over power and control. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
1 Kings 2:1-4, 3:7-15, 11:1-13, 12:1-15 ESV

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Dean Collins

Pastor, campus minister, counselor, corporate employee, Fortune 500 consultant, college president—Dean brings a wide range of experiences and perspectives to his daily walk with God’s Word. 

In 1979 he founded Auburn Christian Fellowship, a nondenominational campus ministry that still thrives today. In 1989 he founded and became executive director for New Directions Counseling Center, a service that grew to include several locations and counselors. In 1996 he became vice president of human resources for the CheckFree Corporation (3,000 employees) till founding DC Consulting in 1999. He continues part-time service with that company, offering executive leadership coaching, organizational effectiveness advice, and help with optimizing business relationships.

His latest pursuit, president of Point University since 2006 (interim president 2006-2009), has seen the college grow in enrollment, curriculum, physical campus, and athletic offerings. He led the school’s 2012 name change and relocation from Atlanta Christian College, East Point, Georgia, to Point University in West Point, Georgia. Meanwhile, he serves as board member or active volunteer with several nonprofits addressing issues ranging from global immunization to local government and education. 

He lives in Lanett, Alabama, with his wife, Penny. He has four children (two married) and five grandchildren. He plays the guitar, likes to cook, and enjoys getting outdoors, often on a nearby golf course. 

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Majesty with Mercy