July 16, 2026

Business by the Book

I Chronicles 12:23  And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD.

The first leadership trait that we see in the men who assembled to make David king of Israel is that they had a purpose.

Their purpose was to transition the kingdom from Saul, who was dead, to David who was anointed as the next king by the prophet Samuel. This purpose invaded everything they did. This purpose, or goal, was simple. It could be communicated in just a few words. It was not overly complex, confusing, contradictory, or cumbersome. It was simple, it was their purpose.

Leaders are people of purpose. That purpose may have many facets, offshoots, or varying tasks, but the underlying purpose is the foundation for all that is done. When the purpose is forgotten rest assured it will not be accomplished. Someone once said, “Aim for nothing, you’ll hit it every time.” Nowhere is this better illustrated than the practice range at your local golf course.

On the golf range no matter where you hit the ball you can convince yourself and others that is where you intended to hit it. But once a golfer steps up to that first tee box, everyone, including the golfer, knows where the ball is supposed to go. The fairway is where the properly struck golf ball should land. On the range there is no line of trees, no pressure to score, no real purpose other than to practice. But on the course the purpose is to make par or better.

Obtain an overall purpose, maintain the course to accomplish that purpose, retain anything that will assist in reaching that purpose, sustain the mechanism to reach that purpose, detain anything that hinders in reaching that purpose, and explain the purpose to others in a way they can understand thereby never experiencing the pain of failure.

Dr. William Howe