1 Kings 4:7-19: a reflection

7Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had to make provision for a month in the year. 8These are their names: Ben Hur, in the hill country of Ephraim; 9Ben Deker, in Makaz, in Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan; 10Ben Hesed, in Arubboth (Socoh and all the land of Hepher belonged to him); 11Ben Abinadab, in all the height of Dor (he had Taphath, Solomon’s daughter, as wife); 12Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth Shean which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from Beth Shean to Abel Meholah, as far as beyond Jokmeam; 13Ben Geber, in Ramoth Gilead (the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, belonged to him; and the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars, belonged to him); 14Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim; 15Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he also took Basemath the daughter of Solomon as wife); 16Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth; 17Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar; 18Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin; 19Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer who was in the land.

In describing Solomon's well-ordered kingdom, this passage lists twelve officers, each responsible for providing food for the king and his household for one month of the year. The great task of provisioning the royal household was not laid on any one person; it was divided among twelve, each carrying the responsibility for a single month. The burden was shared, so that no one was overwhelmed, and the work was sustainable throughout the year.

Notice the wisdom of this arrangement: a large, ongoing task divided into manageable portions and shared among many. Rather than laying the whole burden on one person, or trying to do everything at once, the work was distributed, each officer taking his turn and his share. This made a great task sustainable, prevented any one person from being crushed by it, and ensured the work got done steadily over time.

That is a principle of wisdom for our own work and responsibilities. We are prone to try to carry too much ourselves, to shoulder whole burdens alone, or to attempt everything at once, and so to be overwhelmed. But there is wisdom in dividing large tasks into manageable portions and sharing responsibility with others, so that the load is bearable and the work sustainable. Do not try to carry everything alone or do it all at once. Where you can, divide large tasks into portions, share responsibility with others, and take your work in sustainable measures, as Solomon's kingdom did. A burden shared is bearable; a task divided gets done. Seek the wisdom of shared load and manageable portions, rather than crushing yourself under what was never meant to be carried alone or all at once.

Lord, in Solomon's well-ordered kingdom, the great task of provisioning the household was divided among twelve officers, each responsible for one month, so the burden was shared and no one overwhelmed, and the work was sustainable. Teach me the wisdom of that arrangement. I am prone to try to carry too much myself, to shoulder whole burdens alone, or to attempt everything at once, and so to be overwhelmed. But there is wisdom in dividing large tasks into manageable portions and sharing responsibility with others, so that the load is bearable and the work sustainable. Keep me from trying to carry everything alone or do it all at once. Where I can, help me divide large tasks into portions, share responsibility with others, and take my work in sustainable measures. A burden shared is bearable; a task divided gets done. Give me the wisdom of shared load and manageable portions, rather than crushing myself under what was never meant to be carried alone.