Today’s Reading, Proverbs 24-26
Focal Scripture: Proverbs 25:15 “A ruler can be persuaded through patience, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.”
We all have ideas we want to see accomplished. I know personally, I am an idea man. I have had places where my ideas have been fostered and I have had only one place where my ideas were crushed. The places that fostered my ideas had great leaders and being they would help encourage me and show me how the ideas could make more of an impact. Their responses were gentle when they disagreed with a plan but they were persuaded by my patience and commitment to the ideas I had.
In the verse today the writer tells us that a ruler can be persuaded through patience. This means that sometimes people in charge need some time to think through and process an idea. Being patient with a leader who is struggling with a plan will almost always lead to a change of heart because they see the benefit of letting people express their giftedness. Also, when a leader disagrees they can correct with gentleness. This will ultimately lead to growth and respect from both parties involved.
So what plans do you have today that seem to keep getting ignored or rebuked from others? In the one situation where I experienced this, the leader was mean, jealous, and always out to destroy those who did not agree with them. No matter how patient or calm I was with them they would get upset, raise their voice and question why I was the way I was in my thinking. It wasn’t just me but others as well and it caused tremendous damage to people.
I encourage you today to not change the heart God gave you with ideas. It may need to be refined and honed but not crushed. Be patient with leaders who desire to lead and grow. These leaders will ultimately see the good and allow you to flourish. If you have a bad leader, pray God will convict them to see you the way God does in his eyes. Not every leader is cruel but the ones who are, will answer to the Lord for their actions and speech.
Our challenge as believers is to be patient and gentle in all that we do with our families and with others. We do not need to treat others horribly because they think different than we do or have different ways of processing things. We need to lead out of the overflow of our hearts and that will lead to greater change in us as individuals and corporately.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Proverbs 27-29
