Today’s Reading, Proverbs 27-29
Focal Scripture: Proverbs 28:16 “A leader who lacks understanding is very oppressive, but one who hates dishonest profit prolongs his life.”
Have you ever been around a person who lacks understanding? This is a person who wants things done their way and their way only. This person even has the mentality that nobody else is as smart as them and then treats everyone around them as inferior. They even make no effort to understand people and the perspectives that they. Ring to the table. If you have never experienced that consider yourself lucky. I have experienced this type of leader and it is exhausting and debilitating.
In today’s reading we see that a leader who lacks understanding is not just oppressive but very oppressive. However, a leader who hates dishonest profit will prolong their life. Why is this the case? A person who lacks understanding doesn’t try to really know people. Instead they see people as pawns on a chess board. People are only valuable if they serve a purpose. A leader who sees people as individuals created in the image of God sees that gaining an advantage dishonestly causes pain will make their life longer.
This verse is teaching us that character in leadership matters more than the actual ability to lead. Treating people fairly and with compassion goes a longer way than being successful. I can’t tell you the number of times I hear leaders use the world’s standard as biblical guidelines. For instance, I have witnessed leaders never try to understand the people they are leading. If a person disagrees with them they are cut off and treated like the enemy. These leaders cause damage and lots of it wherever they go and put down roots. These leaders make it a priority to be successful by the world’s standards.
However, leaders who genuinely care about people and godly results don’t want shortcuts, they want to see people grow before the organization grows. This type of leader doesn’t want a quick fix. This type of leader encourages people to be themselves. This type of leader embraces people for who they are, not by trying to control them.
If I can give any advice to people in leadership it would be this truth. Let people be themselves as they go about their day. Don’t try and control every aspect of their life and job. Give people a goal and let their creativity get them across the finish line. If a person needs or wants more guidance they will ask for that help.
The challenge that most people have when dealing with others is control. Good leader five up control and trust others. This is true even if you don’t underwent this process for decision making. To intervene is to become oppressive and it stifles creativity. I have experienced that one time ins job. It caused me to be stressed every day. It also caused me to lose my creativity.
Good leaders allow people to be their unique selves for the glory of God. People who control others are also people who try to control the narrative. So if you have control issues it is time to give that to the Lord. You don’t want to be known as an oppressive leader.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Ecclesiastes 1-6
