Find your “WHY”…

…a common conversation in corporate, educational, and even entrepreneurial spaces. I’ve been in more than a few meetings where this question brought more eye rolls than reflection and motivating introspection.

Today I was in 2 Chronicles 2, and read perhaps the most important answer to the question “What is your why?” This one-liner from Hiram King of Tyre to the newly crowned Solomon jumped off the page:

“Because the Lord loves his people,

he has made you their king.” (2:11)

Hiram was recognizing the purpose of Solomon’s kingship – “Because the Lord loves his people”.  

The purpose, the “why”, was to demonstrate God’s love to the people.  

Not for the purpose of Solomon’s own gain, his rise to fame or fortune, not even for the glory of God (though that would be enough of a reason). Not even to effect change, although I’m sure that happened.

But the communication of God’s love was the reason.

When i read that I thought of leaders in my life whose leadership serves that purpose for me. And I felt a new “why” rising in my chest for the spaces where I hold leadership roles.

We aren’t kings of course.  But in any leadership role, how do our decisions and actions communicate God’s love to those being led?  Today I’m choosing afresh to let that be the purpose.

“Because the Lord loves his people, he has made you their …

…department chair / principal / choir director / section leader / math teacher…(fill in the blank for you)…

May the love of others always be the highest reason.