Where the word of a king is, there is power; And who may say to him, “What are you doing?” He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; And a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment…All this I have seen, and applied my heart to every work that is done under the sun: There is a time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt.

~Ecclesiastes 8:4-5, 9

Solomon makes points about our relationship to the people who lead us. We are to submit to them, not because the person deserves it, but because the office deserves it and God decrees it. And what about leaders in authority? Solomon also issues a warning. When leaders try to exercise authority without a servant’s heart, they eventually hurt themselves. Consider what he says:

Role of the Follower

1. Submit to God-given authority.

2. Trust God to accomplish His purpose.

3. Don’t quit or become divisive.

Role of the Leader

1. Exercise authority with wisdom and caution.

2. Recognize that no human controls all of life.

3. Lead others by serving, not bossing them.

(c) John Maxwell ~ The Maxwell Leadership Bible