"A crown, golden in show, is but a wreath of thorns."
John Milton
Do you desire to be a leader, or are you merely a seeker of the power and privileges that leaders receive? The people may see their king on a throne and wonder why one human is allowed to reign above another — believing that they are deserving of a life they believe to be easy.
But when war comes to their gates, will they have the courage to decide whose children must be sent to fight and die, and whose will stay and live? When the crown of a prince's father and grandfather adorns his head, will he be able to defend their people? When you answer to no one, no one answers your cries for help.
It is easy to strive for the benefits of power while overlooking their great responsibilities. If you are meant to be a leader, seek wisdom over riches. Those with power and no wisdom often lose it; those with wisdom and no power often gain it.
"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way."
John Maxwell
Leaders enjoy the privileges of wealth and power and prestige, but also must bear the burden of responsibilities that followers can never understand. The leader has no one to follow — no one to say which way to go and which path to avoid. They must forge ahead with certainty, calculating every possible outcome to ensure the safety of those who walk behind them.
The lives of millions rest in a leader's hands. Are you prepared to lead when times are hard and others look to you for direction? Are you certain that you will point them the right way?