July 28, 2026

Business by the Book

I Chronicles 12:38 All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.

The ninth leadership trait that we see in the men who assembled to make David the King of Israel is that they were all of a perfect heart.

All of these men, at least 320,000, had a perfect heart for the task at hand. This does not mean that they were perfect men, for there is no such thing, but that their hearts were perfect for the job they needed to do. One of the overriding characteristics of hearts that are perfect is that they were said to be of “one heart.”  Singleness of heart among any group comes from each individual having, and maintaining, a perfect heart.

Let me give an example. I drive a GMC truck. It is just a few years old, but it is far from perfect. It stays filthy because the last two years there has been major highway construction every direction I travel each day, which will continue for another two to three years. Every time we wash our vehicles the next day they are just as dirty. It has a few scratches on it here and there. However, my truck is perfect for my needs. It has a built in navigation system for the many home visits I make, it has a lockable cover over the bed so I can carry my work tools for the repairs we do at church, it has enough towing power to pull my trailers, it is air conditioned (a necessity in Texas), it is comfortable for long trips as I seldom choose to fly, and it is very reliable.  It is not a perfect truck, but it is perfect for my job.

The men who came to David to make him king were not perfect men, but they had perfect hearts, characterized by being of one heart. They completed their tasks admirably. Each and every leader must strive to obtain and maintain a perfect heart for their task at hand. Also, each leader must try to develop perfect hearts of their followers so that the entire organization will be of one heart. Do this, and the job will get done, guaranteed!

Dr. William Howe