In 1873, an Austrian born immigrant named John Michael Kohler founded the Kohler Company in Kohler, Wisconsin. Although the company is best known for its plumbing products, it also produces engines, cabinetry, furniture and generators. It also has interests in hospitality, and most recently expanded its product line to include engine based power plants. According to Forbes Magazine, the company is one of the largest and most profitable enterprises in the world. Worth an estimated $14 billion, the company is helmed by David Kohler, one of the descendants of the founder.

Earlier this week, I was surprised to learn that the latter Mr. Kohler was college roommates with Kenny Smith—the Queens, New York born, two-time National Basketball Association (NBA) Champion turned award winning analyst of the show Inside The NBA  (that airs on the Turner Network Television TNT). Even more surprising was something that Kenny said that he learned from David one night during their college days. Kenny wanted to know what position in the family business David planned to take after he graduated, assuming that he would automatically land in a very high profile, cushy, well compensated role.

However, Kenny said that much to his surprise, David told him that his father had other plans for his future. Kenny said that David told him “ I’ve got to be a plumber first. He's going to make me be a plumber and then I go through the steps so if I get an invoice as an executive for $7 for screws I know that they're really $3. So I know everything about the company.’” It was a lesson that Smith said that he never forgot.  So the next time you see a Kohler faucet and remember that it is a billion dollar company, keep in mind that the leader of that company started as a plumber.  Imagine!  The heir and current chief executive officer of a 150 year old billion dollar corporation began his career as a plumber!  

As I thought about that story, it occurred to me that far too many organizations in our society have plumbing problems. By that I mean that they are frequently led by people who do not have the requisite skills, knowledge, ability or experience to lead. They haven’t been in the trenches long enough (if at all) to understand the difference between a screw that costs $3 and one that costs $7. One of my colleagues said that many churches can’t find anyone to serve as Youth Pastors because they all are Bishops. LOL. There is something to be said for starting at the bottom. There is something to be said for learning the ropes. There is something to be said for coming up through the ranks. Skipping steps is a recipe for disaster.

I think that It was to avoid this disaster that God allowed Jesus to be born as a child in a manager in Bethlehem. One of the most powerful passages in all of scripture is Luke 2:52, which simply says that

Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.

Jesus grew! Unlike Adam, Jesus grew. When God created the first Adam, he did not have a childhood. Adam was created as a grown man and was given an earthly paradise which he immediately lost. One of the reasons I think that he lost the paradise that he was given was because he had not grown into it. He had not suffered enough, grown enough, or struggled enough to appreciate what he had. But when God created the second Adam, he did not put him in paradise.

God put him in a manager, outdoors, and surrounded by animals. In other words, Jesus started as a plumber before he reigned as King. (Well, he was a carpenter. But you get the idea! LOL). Jesus grew. And Jesus not only grew up but he grew into his destiny as Lord and Christ and our King. Non plumbers tend to mess up paradise.

Here are two critical takeaways:

1. Make sure you check the resume of anybody that leads you. If they did not spend a season as plumber, be afraid. Be very afraid.

2. If you desire to be in charge, don’t lament the time that must be spent in the trenches learning the difference between a screw that costs $3 and one that costs $7.

It will be time well spent.