Proverbs 31 Advice

Normally, this passage is taught from the perspective of the wife/mother. In this and my next post, I want to see what it has to say to the husbands and fathers (and maybe a little application in business!). I hope you are willing to give me a little freedom to do this. I promise to return to Christian business after this.

Hopefully, you have read Proverbs 31 before (if not, go now and do so!) and you recognize it as the description of the “perfect” wife and mother. Of course, some people or even organizations these days might argue that it is a sexist or chauvinistic depiction, but I happen to think it is an incredibly insightful illustration of the variety of skills and responsibilities possessed by wives and mothers today.

For Husbands And Fathers?

Assuming you agree, what does it say to the rest of us? What specifically does it say to husbands and fathers? What part should we play in conjunction with a Proverbs 31 woman? Well, I think Proverbs 31 has some specific instructions that are directed at us husbands and fathers.

While Proverbs 31 is not at all an exhaustive set of instructions for us husbands and fathers, I do believe there are a few points of wisdom we can take from it. In fact, I found four (4) pieces of advice I think we would be wise to heed. Let’s take a look and see if you agree.

His Heart Trusts Her

The heart of her husband trusts in her,…
Proverbs 31:11

When taught from the perspective of the wife or mother, verse 11 teaches that she is to be trustworthy. For our purposes today, I want to turn that around and use it for advice to husbands and fathers. As a result, I think we are being told that we are to trust in our wives.

Wow, that sounds simple. Maybe so, but are you doing it? Are you really trusting her? Do you second-guess her in situations where you think you should be in control? Do you trust her opinion or intuition when it comes to people you work with or partners you take on?

Healthy Trust

Guys, I am not talking about blind trust here. I am talking about a healthy relationship where she has proven trustworthy (as have you), but you and I still fail to trust in her. Why is that? Do we think we are less of a man if we trust in her in areas where we are unsure?

I don’t have the time or space here to list all of the examples where this advice applies, but I think you get the idea. In fact, I believe that if you have read Proverbs 31 and will pray for insight into how this verse applies to you, God is faithful to show you how it applies to you specifically.

I think He can also show you where you could apply this at work. Maybe there are some people that have shown themselves trustworthy over time, but you are still clinging to control or withholding your trust from them for one reason or another. Maybe if you extended them trust, you might just see them blossom! Pray and let Him show you.

He Is Known At The City Gates

Her husband is known at the city gates, where he sits among the elders of the land.
Proverbs 31:23

In the days when this was originally written, the respected men of a town would gather at the city gates. There they would share wisdom, make decisions regarding the welfare, business, safety, etc. of the town. To be “known at the city gates” means you are respected and an honorable citizen of the town.

This verse goes a little further than saying the husband is known there. In this verse, he actually “sits among the elders.” This means that the husband is actually one of the most respected men in town. He is trusted to participate in the group of elders as a peer, someone who is part of the leadership of the town.

Not Political!

For us husbands and fathers, I do not believe this means we are all to run for political office. However, I do believe we are to be among the most respected in our communities. Our wives need to know that we will consistently behave in such a way as to earn this respect.

Whether we are business owners, in leadership positions in business, or in some other way involved in the community, we are to act in such a way as to earn the respect of those in our community. We are to do this over a period of years, not just for a season.

This is because this respect is not something that comes quickly. Instead, it is something that we earn over time. It is something that comes from years of making solid Biblical decisions, regardless of the cost to us or our businesses. If our wives know this about us, don’t you think it will be easier for them to follow our lead when we need them to the most?

What about our employees or those team members we work with? Do you think it is easier for them to follow us and trust our lead when they know we have acted in such a way over years so as to earn the respect of the community? I think this advice can benefit us in many settings!

To Be Continued…

That is all the space I have today. Join me for the next post as I give you the last two pieces of advice from Proverbs 31. If you are really interested, maybe you can read ahead in Proverbs 31 and see if you see the same advice I see!

Are either of these points on target with you?

Where do you struggle with this advice?

What action step(s) do you need to take?

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Doubt and Frustration

If you have not read the last two posts, you need to start here with Part 1 and then read Part 2 here. Those posts will catch you up to this one.

At the time described in those posts, I recognized that I was in the wrong. I knew I was depressed and frustrated, but without real justification, during the two days of meetings. However, I did not see the depth of my problem. I was too focused on the circumstances to see the root.

Misdiagnosis

As I explained, I am very competitive! I do not like to lose and I saw the comparisons in that meeting as indications that I was losing. It created a deep frustration and anger at the picture on which I was focused.

Unfortunately, I did not see the root of this problem until reading over my Sunday School lesson the next week. The light slowly came on as I progressed through Sunday School and then listened to the sermon on the same topic.

As I read several examples of envy in the Bible, I began to recognize that it was the real root of my frustration.

Examples of Envy

As early as Genesis 4, envy shows up when Cain and Abel gave offerings to God. Abel’s offering pleased God, but Cain’s did not. This angered Cain and caused him to attack and kill his brother.

In Numbers 12:1, Miriam and Aaron began to criticize Moses for marrying a Cushite woman, but the real issue came out in verse 2. Here, they attacked Moses’ position of leadership, saying they should be sharing in it. Miriam was punished with leprosy for instigating this incident.

Later, you can read about King Saul and his envy of David in 1 Samuel 18. When the people sang about David’s conquests being greater than King Saul’s, this greatly angered King Saul. This envy eventually drove Saul to attempt to kill David on a couple of occasions.

My Issue Was Envy

More and more, I began to see how my attitude in those meetings was more about envy than being competitive. I could call it whatever I wanted to call it, but it looked just like envy when compared to the stories in the Bible.

No, I was not angry enough to want to attack anyone in the meetings! At the same time, I was certainly sideways to the point of not being able to learn and function the way I should have been. I just kept looking at the numbers and obsessing over the gap between ours and theirs. Is this really any different?

Problems With Envy

Just so you know how serious envy can be, I have compiled a short list of five problems you need to consider when faced with envy in your heart. As is normally the case, this is not an exhaustive list, but it is a good start. Maybe you can add to it in the comment section.

1. You are the one hurt the most.

Envy is not healthy and will eat you alive from the inside. In fact, Proverbs 14:30 calls it rottenness in the bones. Those you envy will never know it and will not be hurt by it. Envy as a weapon is best described as a boomerang!

2. You are thinking in scarcity terms.

This problem with envy is that it assumes a win for someone else is a loss for us. Their fortune is our misfortune. This is simply wrong thinking! God can bless us as He chooses. He does not have a limited number of blessings that He can dole out. Psalm 24:1 tells us that the entire earth is God’s – and everything in it! God’s economy is an abundance economy, not one of scarcity.

3. Things will only get worse.

James 3:16 tells us that envy leads to disorder and every kind of evil. You cannot stop the train of your emotions at envy. Once started, that train will plow through relationships, businesses, and any lives that get in its way.

4. You are telling God you do not trust Him.

When we envy others, we tell God that we do not trust His will for us. We scream to Him that we deserve more and that He must not be looking out for our best interests. We are more likely to grab the steering wheel from Him at this point and attempt to head in a different direction than He wills for us.

5. You are telling God that what He has given is not enough.

And saving the best for last, with our envy, we tell God that the blessings He has given us so far are not enough – beginning with our salvation through the cross of His Son Jesus! We are basically saying that we know we are blessed, but we want to be MORE blessed and He needs to get started on that right now!

What would you add to the list?

Have you battled envy?

How do you overcome envy in your life?

Photo by Oliver Hoffmann/iStock

Boss’ Presence Changes Behavior!

It is amazing to me how many conversations come to an immediate end or how inactivity turns into frenzied activity when I come around a corner or walk into a room. I don’t want you to get the picture that I create fear or that our employees are lazy. Neither are the case.

At the same time, there is a difference between what people will say or do when the boss is not looking versus when he or she is present. Like me, you have likely observed this phenomenon from both sides.

I Am Guilty!

When I was in school or first working in the business, I remember multiple times when I thought I was out of sight of the teacher or the boss. Rather than doing what I was supposed to be doing, I went in a different direction. In some cases, I misbehaved. Other times, I simply did nothing I was supposed to be doing.

There were times I was caught and other times when I got away with it. Regardless, these are not times I am proud to discuss. Even today, I think I can be guilty of this. More on that later!

My point is that we need to examine ourselves and determine what we normally do when the boss is not looking. There are a couple of levels on which we can ask this question.

When Boss Is Not Looking

First, to whatever degree we work for someone else, we need to be diligent to do our jobs. We need to do this even when the boss is not looking. We need to do this because it is our responsibility as followers of Jesus. Consider these words from Paul:

Slaves, obey your human masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:22-24

Most of us probably agree with this thought. This is especially true if you are a boss of any sort. You want to know that those that report to you are working and doing what they should be doing even when you are not there.

What If We Are The Boss?

But how does this idea apply to those of us who are Christian business owners? What if we are at the top of the company and there is no one else to “watch” us? Is there any real application here?

Actually, I think there is. First, though your organizational chart may show you at the top, you are still responsible to those listed under you. They and their families are reliant upon you and your leadership. Just like the sheep depend on the shepherd, they depend on you.

Without your focus and hard work, their opportunities to grow and succeed are stifled. Whenever your focus drifts and you stop doing your job as part of the team, the overall success of the company slips a notch. So, whether they are looking or not, you are responsible to be diligent in your work!

God As The Boss?

Now, let’s take this to another level. While God is not necessarily our “boss” in the way that we normally think of Him, there is a parallel idea here. When the boss is not looking, our behavior changes. When we do not think about God watching, our behavior can also change.

Sure God is invisible and it is hard for us to remember at times that He is always watching us. At the same time, maybe that is something that should change. Maybe we need to work harder at recognizing that He is always with us and always aware of what we are and are not doing.

What About You?

Knowing this is true, what thoughts are coming to mind? What are you doing that you know He doesn’t want you doing? What are you not doing that He really wants you to do? Do you behave with God the way you do when the boss is not looking?

I know this is not easy to do. I have a hard time with it myself. However, that does not mean we can simply ignore the issue. As with anything else, we need to recognize what should be and what is. Then we need to work to close the gap. Easier said than done, I know.

Do you behave differently when the boss is not looking?

Do others act differently when you are around?

What do you need to change?

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Great Presidential Candidates?

In fact, my son asked me one time why we don’t have more presidential candidates like Lincoln, Jefferson and Washington anymore. I explained my thoughts on that and we had a great conversation about leadership. But this conversation got me thinking about the most common leadership qualities everyone wants in their leaders and how this could apply to Christian business owners and leaders.

Leadership Behaviors

Babson College, near Boston, MA, did a survey as a part of their Executive Education program. They asked the question, “What leadership behaviors do you value the most?” Below are the top three responses to this question.

1. Creates a clear vision
2. Keeps his or her word
3. Builds teamwork

Again, depending on your political views, you may see some of these qualities in one or more of the current Presidential candidates. You may not. The closer we get to the election and the more we learn about them, the worse it seems. There is a lot of frustration building up around this election. People are not sure what to think.

Our Leadership

However, this post is not about the Presidential candidates at all. It is about you and me. But you probably knew that already, didn’t you?

In his book, EntreLeadership, Dave Ramsey talks a lot about leadership. In his very first chapter, Ramsey shoots straight and gives the following quote.

The big deal here is to remember that the very things you want from a leader are the very things the people you are leading expect from you. You must intentionally become more of each of these every day to grow yourself and your business. And to the extent you’re not doing that, you’re failing as a leader.

Room For Improvement

See, we all like to talk about the lack of leadership in the current Presidential candidates. We may even apply this thinking to our churches and the other organizations in which we are involved. We may even be right about that.

But what we need to realize is that the people we are leading have the same expectation from their leaders – and we are those leaders!

Rather than griping about the lack of leadership we see in those leading us, we need to turn our attention inward and become the leaders others need us to be. Rather than complaining about the lacking in other leaders, let’s commit to being the leaders God created us to be – the leaders worthy of those who are counting on us.

Leadership Assessment

I encourage you to assess your own leadership. Enlist the help of others in your organization because it will help you get more of a 360 degree view. Ask the following questions:

• Have you created (and continued to communicate) a clear vision for your company?
• Are you trustworthy? Do you keep your word, regardless of the cost to you?
• Do you build up teams or tear them down?

Once you have your answers, be intentional about improving in each area. We can not afford to spend time complaining about the lack of leadership in our presidential candidates when there is still room for our own leadership to improve. Let’s commit together to get the log out of our eye before we set out to remove the speck from someone else’s!

Are you the leader for your people that you desire for yourself?

What qualities are you missing?

What do you need to work on first?

Photo by Shu-Hung Liu/Shutterstock

Christian Business Leader Truths

1. You must live by example, to a higher standard.

As the owner or leader of a Christian business, you are the example to follow, whether you like it or not. You are the head of the business and your employees are going to look to you for the example. What do they see?

You can talk all you want about your “Christian business” and how you want everyone to live it out, but if YOU are not living the witness that matches your talk, then you are wasting your breath. And just in case you want to take Charles Barkley’s approach (watch this video), forget it. You cannot vacate this position just because you say so!

2. Others need to know you care before they will listen to you.

You can have a full alphabet of letters after your name to represent your education. You can have decades of experience in your field and have the scars to show for it. You can even have a book you wrote on every desk in your business to prove your expertise.

All that is fine, but if you truly want your employees or team members to listen to you, you had better show them how much you truly care about them. This cannot be faked or imitated. You must sincerely care about those around you AND they must know it before you can expect them to hear what you have to say and act on it.

Sure, you can demand obedience, but you will never get their heart. Without their heart, you have no engagement. Without engagement, your struggle will be long and difficult!

3. Dollars given are nice, hands-on ministry is better.

It is so easy for successful Christian business leaders and owners to see a cause that touches their heart and give money to it. There is nothing wrong with this at all! In fact, I encourage it!

The problem is that this act requires very little investment or sacrifice in many cases. If you really want to change lives, you need to get your hands dirty! In addition to giving money, you need to step out and give of yourself.

This can mean different things to different people, so I encourage you to simply pray God will reveal His will in this for you. Ask Him to send you out and teach you through hands-on experience in giving!

4. This life is a marathon, not a sprint.

Too often, it is easy to get caught up in the fact that we have not seen any immediate results from our efforts lately. We bust our tails for a period and then look around for the payoff. When none is found, we get discouraged.

We cannot forget that the race we have been called to run is not a short one. We will eventually finish it and get the rest we deserve, but until then we are to run. This is not to say we do not take our sabbath rests and breaks to sharpen the axe. We must. However, we simply cannot afford to depend on the run-reward-run-reward pattern that often exists in world around us. God’s pattern is different…BETTER, but different!

5. You are not alone.

This is the Achilles heel of so many Christian business leaders today. We think that God has called us, equipped us, and then sent us out alone into the world to impact it for Him. In fact, if you did not read that last sentence carefully, you may be thinking it was a true statement!

The problem with this statement is the one word, “alone.” Look at Matthew 28:19-20. Jesus tells us to go and make disciples. He also tells us He will be with us, to the very end of the age! Also look at God’s words to Joshua (Joshua 1:2-9). Twice, He told Moses He would not leave him or forsake him.

Just like the disciples and Joshua, we are sent out to do ministry in a tough world. Please, do not get caught in the trap that allows you to think you are alone. With the presence of the Holy Spirit in you and Jesus at the Father’s side interceding for you, you are anything but alone. Draw strength from Him and press into Him for the endurance you need. It is there for the asking!

Which of these truths are you most guilty of forgetting?

What truth would you add to this list? Why?

What are you going to do to remember these truths?

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Bad Leader

What I do not see as often is information on what a bad leader looks like. So I thought I would make my own list. In my last post, I gave you the first five warning signs that you may NOT be a good leader. Here are the second five of my 10 warning signs (and brief descriptions). I have also included some Scripture references. Take a look and see if you have anything to worry about!

5 More Warning Signs You May NOT Be A Good Leader

6. You would not want to be an employee in your own company.

A good leader has built her team on based on integrity, excellence, teamwork, a learning attitude, and a number of other healthy values. Based on this, she would not mind working in that environment herself (as an employee, for another leader).

You are not a good leader if you have used other methods to build your team. Whether it is intimidation, secrecy (no sharing of information, vision, etc.), or micromanagement, these methods would not be acceptable to you if the roles were reversed and you had to work in that same environment as the employee. (Matthew 18:23-35)

7. No one is (sincerely) asking for your advice.

A good leader has shown himself to be a learner. He is open-minded and a great listener. As a result, people naturally gravitate to him seeking advice.

You are not a good leader if people are not coming to you in the same way. You may be guilty of always criticizing or it may be that you just do not listen. Maybe you are not approachable because of the ivory tower in which you work or it could be that you make it known you are not open to learning. Regardless, people are going elsewhere for wisdom and advice. (Proverbs 13:14; 14:7)

8. Your team does not know your vision for the company.

A good leader knows that she cannot hold her vision for the company close to the vest. She knows she needs other DNA carriers spreading the vision. Therefore a good leader over-communicates her vision and reinforces it with policy and process decisions.

You are not a good leader if your team cannot describe in detail your vision for the company. You have not done your job if they cannot recount how they are personally responsible for carrying out that vision in their particular job. Quit protecting it and get it out there! (Nehemiah 2:11-18)

9. You are more interested in your success than the success of your team.

A good leader knows that he can get anything he wants in life if he will just help enough other people get what they want in life (Zig Ziglar). A good leader seeks to remove obstacles from in front of the members of his team so they can be more productive rather that only focusing on his own issues.

You are not a good leader if you think someone has to lose in order for you to win. You are missing out on tremendous fulfillment when you love yourself first and foremost.
(Proverbs 11:24-25)

10. You are not following the right leader.

A good leader knows she is not the highest authority. A good leader recognizes that though there are certainly other good leaders out there, she puts her trust in God. By using the Bible as a guide for her leadership style, she makes sure she is operating as close as she can to what her Creator intended in the original design!

You are not a good leader if you are following anything or anyone other than God. Sure, their are other godly leaders from which you can learn. But if you are relying on them for your example, you are inviting disappointment. Put your trust in the only One worthy of your full trust!
(Psalm 146:3-6)

What warning signs would you add to this list?

Which of these is your biggest challenge?

What will you do to change it?

What Would You Invest to Have 50 Biblical Mentors?

Imagine what it would cost to sit down to lunch with more than 50 different leaders to glean their wisdom for life.

• What would it cost you to travel to more than 50 locations?
• How much would you pay for hotels and food?
• What scheduling headaches would you encounter trying to make it happen?

Your costs would easily run into the thousands of dollars if you could pull it off at all. But 17BPS has done it for you.

Now you can have all this wisdom delivered when it is convenient for you for only a fraction of the cost.

Click HERE to learn more!

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Bad Leader?

What I do not see as often is information on what a bad leader looks like. So I thought I would make my own list. Here are the first five of my 10 warning signs (and brief descriptions) that you may NOT be a good leader. I will cover the next 5 in my next post. I have also included some references in Proverbs. Take a look and see if you have anything to worry about!

First 5 Warning Signs You Are Not A Good Leader

1. You do not look in the mirror regularly.

I am certainly not referring to vanity. Instead, I am suggesting that it is a sign you might be a bad leader if you do not take the opportunity to regularly get feedback on how you are doing. A good leader seeks honest feedback on his performance from his supervision, peers, and direct reports.

You are not a good leader if you assume all is good and ignore opportunities to hear constructive criticism. (Proverbs 13:10; 15:12)

2. You are the smartest one in your company.

A good leader certainly needs to be smart. It is a great advantage for a leader to be able to keep up with the intellectual demands of the job.

However, you are not a good leader if you think you must be the smartest one on your team or in your company. Only hiring those that you feel are not as smart as you are will only cause you to miss out on a wealth of ideas and synergy that could result from removing this limitation. (Proverbs 20:18)

3. You think you are the smartest one in your company.

This is a different problem than #2. This bad leader does not limit the intelligence of new team members, but instead is guilty of failing to recognize the potential inherent in his team members or employees. A good leader can often recognize potential in others, sometimes even when they themselves are unaware of it.

Whether you intend to or not, you are not a good leader if you are blind to the abilities and intelligence of your team. (Proverbs 11:14; 12:15)

4. You do not remember the last time you read a book.

I believe strongly in the saying that “Leaders are readers.” As technology changes at a more and more rapid pace, and culture along with it, a leader needs to keep pace with the change. Good leaders can learn new things from reading history, current biographies, and even fiction. Obviously, we have already mentioned the vast numbers of books and blogs specifically targeted at becoming a better leader.

On the other hand, you are a not a good leader if you leave the learning to others. While reading books is legitimately difficult for some, there are other options such as audio books, conferences, and webinars online. (Proverbs 15:14)

5. Your idea of communication is a strong email.

Whether it is spreading the team’s mission and vision or just taking advantage of a coaching moment, communication from a leader is critical. A good leader knows this and spends much if his time making sure his communication is getting through to his team.

You are not a good leader if you use email as your main form of communication. Even if your team is scattered all over the world, there are much better options than email to make sure body language and tone are correctly conveyed. (Proverbs 15:23; 16:15)

What do you think so far?

Do you see any similarities between this list and your leadership style?

Have you been under a leader who was guilty of any of these?

What Would You Invest to Have 50 Biblical Mentors?

Imagine what it would cost to sit down to lunch with more than 50 different leaders to glean their wisdom for life.

• What would it cost you to travel to more than 50 locations?
• How much would you pay for hotels and food?
• What scheduling headaches would you encounter trying to make it happen?

Your costs would easily run into the thousands of dollars if you could pull it off at all. But 17BPS has done it for you.

Now you can have all this wisdom delivered when it is convenient for you for only a fraction of the cost.

Click HERE to learn more!

Photo by honglouwawa/Shutterstock

Lincoln’s Letter to Meade

Consider Abraham Lincoln’s response to a similar situation shortly after the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. General Meade of the Union Army had General Lee and his Confederate Army trapped against the river at flood stage. It was a significant opportunity to attack Lee’s army and likely put a quick end to the war. Instead, Meade delayed. Lee took advantage of the hesitation and escaped, prolonging the war almost two more years.

Upon hearing of this missed opportunity, Lincoln fired off a letter to Gen. Meade that clearly explained his anger and frustration. This letter accused Meade of being unaware of the “magnitude of the misfortune involved in Lee’s escape.” Lincoln said that Lee was within Meade’s “easy grasp,” but that Meade “stood and let the flood run down, bridges be built, and the enemy move away at his leisure….”

Unsent Letters

How do we know so much about this letter? It was found years later…in Lincoln’s personal files. You see, he never mailed the letter. He cooled off and realized nothing good could come from chastising Meade. He decided he may have made the same decision shortly after losing more than 23,000 men in the recent fight in Gettysburg. Other similar letters were found among Lincoln’s possessions.

Wisdom When Angry

The learning here is that it is simply not wise to react and take action when angry. There are too many things that could go wrong. Our information could later prove to be incomplete or even completely incorrect. Because we are not thinking as clearly when we are angry, it is likely we will do or say something we will later regret. Consider this verse from Proverbs:

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man holds it in check. – Proverbs 29:11

Get Angry, Don’t Sin

This is not to say that you are wrong to get angry. Paul told the Ephesians to be angry, but not to sin (Ephesians 4:26). Getting angry is not a sin. It is our actions during our anger that constitute sin. As Christian business leaders, we are going to get angry. There are too many opportunities for this in business for us to avoid it completely.

Since that is the case, we simply need to lay out some simple guidelines for ourselves as to what we will and won’t do when we are angry. I have put together this list of things we should commit NOT to do when we are angry. Take a look and see if these make sense to you. Feel free to question any of them (or to add to them) in the comment section below.

7 Actions To Avoid When Angry

1. Make a decision to fire someone.

While there is a chance it is the right decision, you need to make sure you feel the same when you have cooled down. Wait a day. If you still feel the same, move forward.

2. Discipline an employee.

Though you may think this is an acceptable compromise from the decision above, it is still a bad idea to do it when you are angry. Write down your intentions and then review them when your mind is again clear.

3. Call a meeting to discuss a problem.

The situation that sparked your anger may warrant a meeting for team discussion or even discipline. Unfortunately you will most likely say something you will later regret or rush into a decision you would otherwise take slowly.

4. Send an email to someone who made a mistake. Call it after you are calm.

Take a lesson from Lincoln and hold your thoughts until you can rethink them. It is likely you will change what you say after some time passes.

5. Go home from work to your family.

This may seem like a good way to avoid saying something you should not say at the office, but if you end up taking your anger out on your unsuspecting family, what have you really gained? Drive around a while if you must.

6. Show your emotions.

A seemingly innocent walk through the office where everyone is at work may not seem dangerous. The problem is that your emotions are written all over your face and everyone notices. Even if they are not involved, their imaginations will run wild.

7. Go looking for more mistakes.

This is probably one of the worst things you can do. There is little doubt you would find something and the offender would bear the brunt of his mistake as well as the one that originally made you angry.

Other Options?

If this list makes you feel like your only option is to crawl under your desk and hide, then I apologize. That is not the case! At the same time, the wisest action you can take is to pray through it. Take a walk outside and pray as you go. Get away from your team until your emotions are under control. You will be much more effective then!

Have you taken any of these actions while angry? How did it turn out?

What actions would you add to this list?

What do you do to cool down?

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Why Allow Poor Leadership?

In my last post, I talked about how we should behave when working in an environment where the open sharing of our Christian faith is either limited or even prohibited altogether. We looked at the example of David in 1 Samuel 24:1-7 to see how he handled remaining under Saul’s authority as king, even though he had been anointed to follow Saul as king.

Today, I want us to think about the various reasons that God may have for leaving Saul in authority as long as He did. Have you ever thought about that? Have you ever wondered why certain poor leadership is allowed to remain in authority today?

I can tell you that I have wondered this! At the same time, I think there are many possible answers we should consider.

1 – David Was Not Ready

You can find a number of examples in the Old Testament where children became king at very young ages – even before becoming teenagers! Can you imagine? Anyway, it is possible that God knew that David was not yet ready to take over as king. It could have been any number of things that God wanted to teach David before establishing him on the throne. We can only guess as to what those lessons are.

Maybe the same is true today. God may be preparing someone to fill a given authority position, but that person is not yet ready. In the meantime, He allows the poor leadership currently in that position to remain until the preferred one is ready.

2 – God Was Trying To Reach Saul

Look at the number of times that God tried to get Saul’s attention – using both David and Samuel. Maybe He allowed Saul to remain on the throne longer than he deserved because He was still trying to reach Saul.

This same idea could apply to a current day situation. It could be that God is chasing the person you think is wrongly placed in an authority position. Maybe God has plans to work a miracle in his heart and just needs a little more time to get that done.

3 – God Was Orchestrating Events

One of the problems we have as humans is that we are severely limited in our capacity to imagine what God is up to. Our minds are so small and our imaginations so limited when compared with His. For us to think we can identify exactly what God is working on from one minute to the next is truly a joke.

There was no way for David to know what events God may have been orchestrating in preparation for him becoming king. Even looking back, it would be difficult for us to hazard solid guesses. At the same time, we can see that this is a possibility.

That same possibility exists today. God could be leaving someone that is opposed to Him in an authority position while He arranges for specific events to come to pass. While we may not know what those events are, we can trust Him to handle it, right?

4 – God Was Teaching The Israelites

If you go all the way back to 1 Samuel 8, you will see that Israel did not have a king. Samuel was the leader of Israel as what was then called a judge, but as Samuel aged, the people demanded a king. Even though God had Samuel warn them about rejecting Him for a king, they would not listen.

Saul was the first king of the Israelite people. It is certainly possible that God was teaching them a lesson about following a king rather than putting their whole trust in Him. Maybe Saul remained on the throne longer so they could feel the pain of poor leadership?

Application Today?

If this lesson is applied today, then we who are under the authority of poor leadership are also the ones needing to learn our lesson. Is God leaving non-believing leaders in place so that we will turn to Him for the true leadership? If so, are we learning the lesson?

Have you experienced poor leadership? What did you do?

What did you learn from the experience?

What additional reasons for God to allow poor leadership do you see?

What if God asked you to do something right then that could potentially wreck your fragile situation? Would obedience be easy for you?

Fragile Situation

Years ago, I had a key, long-term member of our company’s executive leadership team come to me and resign. His reasons were valid and I supported his decision even though I did not want him to leave.

There could have been worse times for this to happen, but it was certain to cause massive change within the organization. I was seriously concerned about the ripple effect it would have on others in the company. I knew I had to tread lightly through the transition to minimize collateral damage.

A Choice To Make

Unfortunately, within days of this news I had to face another, more significant issue which violated one of our core values. This issue, if addressed, had the potential to do tremendous damage to the entire organization – especially in its weakened position! If ignored, there was a good possibility that nothing more would come of it – at least not in the near term.

I prayed about the decision. I sought godly counsel. I wrestled with it from every angle. God’s answer became clear.

The problem was that certain circumstances muddied the picture. Whenever I looked at all that was involved in this picture, I got confused. It was easy to rationalize actually sweeping the whole thing under the rug without many people even knowing it ever happened. That was certainly the easiest thing to do.

Obedience?

I had a clear, but difficult choice between obedience and ignoring the problem altogether.

Based on the feedback I received from godly counsel, the answer was simple. I must address the issue and face it head on. I had sought godly advice and received it. I had prayed about it. The only step remaining was obedience.

Similar Circumstances For Joshua

While the circumstances are not exactly the same, take a look at Joshua 5. The Israelites have just entered the land God had promised them. Unfortunately, it was still enemy territory. They were just miles from Jericho and everyone in that town knew they were coming to attack.

It was at this point that God told Joshua to have ALL the men circumcised! If Joshua followed God’s direction, his army would be incapacitated and completely vulnerable to attack (see Genesis 34). This condition would last for several days. How could he even consider doing this?

Just like me, Joshua found himself in an extremely vulnerable position. God gave him clear instructions. He had the choice between obedience and rebellion.

Choosing Obedience

Joshua chose obedience. God honored that choice.

In my situation, I chose obedience as well.

I truly hated the decision I had to make, but I hated the alternative of ignoring God even more.

God Is Faithful

Now that I am on the other side of the decision, I can promise you that God is faithful when we choose obedience. None of my fears ever materialized. In fact, I found out my team is even stronger than I imagined.

What I really found out (again) is that God honors our faith in Him when we choose obedience. I cannot guarantee I will always choose the right path, but I know I will remember this particular situation for years to come. I encourage you to do the same and see how faithful our God truly is.

I recently read the following quote in Wiersbe’s study on the book of Joshua, called Be Strong.

It has been well said that faith is not believing in spite of evidence but obeying in spite of consequence.

How do you see this quote applying to your situation?

What does it say to you?

Where do you need to choose obedience despite the consequences?

[Original post date was June 28, 2012]