Bottom line up front: Loyalty Is a Fundamental

Intro: “Solomonic wisdom” is a phrase for good reason. Solomon prayed for wisdom, and God graciously gifted Solomon with wisdom: “O LORD God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people . . .” (2 Chronicles 1:9-10, ESV). That is a beautiful prayer. Just let that sink in. Here was David’s son, a man who was going to lead the people of Israel into a time of blessing and opportunity unlike any they’d ever had, and Solomon prayed to God for wisdom. And God granted it.

Encouragement: In the Army Values, the very first one listed of the 7 Army Values is loyalty. When you have loyal and trustworthy people to your left and right, your effectiveness in the mission increases exponentially. Solomon, known for his wisdom, wrote the following: “A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully” (Proverbs 14:35, ESV). In other words, loyalty to our leadership is fundamental. We are not to betray a trust. And Solomon even tells us, the king’s wrath falls on one who acts shamefully. That is, disloyalty is a betrayal of confidence and poisons the formation. As Soldiers and Veterans, one of our core tenets must be loyalty. We must be found faithful to steward well the opportunities we’ve been granted by the king, so to speak. Loyalty reflects the wisdom of the king (leader), proves the fidelity of the Soldier/Veteran, and undergirds the accomplishment of the missions set before us.