Proverbs 25 LESSONS FOR LEADERS
The northern ten tribes of Israel had been conquered by the Assyrians, and were no longer an entity. The people had been dispersed throughout the Assyrian empire so they wouldn’t attempt a rebellion like might happen if many of them were in the same place. A young king named Hezekiah was on the throne of Judah and wanted to honor the Lord under whose authority he knew he was reigning as king. His father had no time for the Lord and had even nailed the temple door shut, but this young leader began right at the beginning of his reign to restore the kingdom to the fear of the Lord. He read the proverbs of Solomon, and had his scribe copy them. Many of them in the last part of the book are repeated from the first part. But this doesn’t mean the Holy Spirit didn’t use these men. When things are repeated, that emphasizes their importance. How marvelous it is to think that a king 3000 years ago was reading and meditating on the same words that I am this morning. How good is God!
What a wonderful blessing it is when leaders have the fear of God in them. Results of that are they will exercise the kind of self-control needed to not act in haste about a matter. When it has been carefully thought through, its effect on those he leads, or the precedent it will make, will be established. He will ask for, and experience, assurance from the Sovereign of the universe for wisdom to be given to His chosen servant. The conclusion of the matter will be such that those he leads will wonder at the insight of their leader. A king, or any leader, seeks out good advisers to help in decision making. But not all civil servants are good people. They all need to be tested to see if there are wicked people in places of influence. Some may have come into responsible positions as good people with needed skill. But when temptation associated with power, or money is there to take, they turn to self-advancement or being manipulated by other people instead of the leader. Periodically they need to be put to a test to see where their allegiance is and what they are really like in character and wisdom.
One of the character traits needed in those who are advisers to the leader, is humility. A quiet faithful adviser is one who can be trusted. He will not be seeking a place for himself. He can be counted on to support the leader, with dignity and honor given to the one he serves. We serve the Lord Christ. It is our privilege to do what we are called to, “as unto the Lord” no matter what that might be.
Don’t rush to judgment by taking a matter to court to get what you think are your rights. Disputes are not really settled if you win your case. It may be later you will find out that you are the one who acted on gossip that was passed on, not reality. Settle disputes outside of court if possible because you may end up the loser. Not only will you lose the case, but you could lose your reputation as a fair and just person who can be trusted.
Advisers to leaders, and leaders themselves, need to always be conscious of the power of words. Some people use words to comfort. Generally, in such times, the less said the better. Too many words are not “fitly spoken.” Make sure the words you say are suited to the reason for them. Be sensitive and gracious when comfort is needed. The same is true when correction and rebuke is called for. Too many words cloud the real issue. Appropriate words from the scriptures stand out as an answer from God as a fundamental principle that suits the need. When a wise leader carefully rebukes and corrects another person in the fear and fellowship of the Lord, both the one reproving and the one being reproved will benefit. One, because they give heed to what is said, and the other because of his wisdom being evident.
It is not easy to find a person you can really trust with things that are important. A trusted employee, a faithful messenger, gives those who lead a sense of relief and gratitude. Divine truth has been given to us. Let us make our Master glad that he can trust us. Pretense and dishonesty are basically the same. Boasting and deception are close together. False teachers and apostates are like “clouds without water.” If a pledge of support is made, or a certain amount of money is designated to a cause or a work, make sure that pledge-promise is kept
If a leader is stubborn, don’t be discouraged. Carefully and patiently state your case, and take your time. With respect for him, and a sense of dignity in yourself, use wise and gracious words to explain what you want to say and why. Take it easy. Take your time. If the end justifies the means, it will happen, “Lord willing.” Don’t take too much of a good thing. Excess in anything has a tendency to “turn your stomach,” or that of those around you. Be moderate in everything. Be a balanced person by your own choice. Don’t wear out your welcome by showing up too often at someone’s house. Hospitality is good, but don’t abuse the hospitality of people by going too often and staying too long. Learn to be sensitive to other people, not self-centered.
To lie about someone is as bad as attacking him with a weapon. The effect of a lie told about a person, will never go away. It will remain as a barrier between people, and the perjurer will have a reputation that will follow him everywhere he goes. Don’t trust people you don’t know, or those you know who are not trustworthy. An undependable person is going to not only hurt you, but will let you down when you need him. Some things people do just don’t fit the situation. If someone is suffering, a quiet word of sympathy and empathy, a verse from the Bible read with a clear tone, and a short prayer are better than singing a “cheer up” song. Avoid the frothy stuff that is like vinegar and soda, but say what is appropriate for the need.
It is not natural, nor is it easy to retaliate against evil done to you in the way that God intends. Our Lord Jesus said we are to pray for our enemies, and give good for evil. We are to let God take care of the accounting by whatever means He chooses. Whatever “coals of fire are:” conscience, judgment or shame – the point is that it is doing what is good and right in the sight of God that is important. Taking vengeance is His work, not ours. Slander may come unexpectedly. There will be consequences that follow when slander is made against another person. Lesson: be very careful about what you say, and/or what is said about you.
Verse twenty-four is a repeated proverb that indicates its importance when it comes to using words. Slander in verse twenty-three and quarrels in a home cause the breakdown of friendship and harmony. Before getting married, take time to observe ways in which a person’s character is revealed. The Gospel is like a refreshing drink of cold water to a troubled soul. Such an offer to an enemy may change his attitude of hostility into gratitude. We get great joy in hearing of the triumphs of the Gospel in all parts of the world.
The standards we live by as children of God, are a fundamental part of our testimony to those around us and to the grace of God. It creates confusion, distortion and disgust when one who could and should be counted on, abandons what he believed and taught, in order to please others. To be accepted by the ungodly as one who had been separated unto the Lord, is a very hard thing to see when one we trusted to teach us the Bible truths, now turns away from those same truths.
For a person who has been looked up to and honored, to think he deserves that in himself, is sickening. In the quest to get what you don’t deserve; you will miss out and lose what you already have. Walls are restrictive it is true. But that is a good thing. It is because of walls we can rest in safety and security. An out-of-control person is like a house or a city without walls. A person who exercises self-control, deliberately limits themselves, but that limitation is necessary in order to avoid attacks that come as a result of an out-of-control tongue. Self-control is also a safety measure when it comes to driving, eating, drinking and sharing life with others in a contented way. When self-control is missing, all kinds of problems will come and fill up that space.