Study from God’s Word… Many Proverbs concerning people issues listed in The Daily Bible in Chronological Order from Proverbs 1, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, , and 29, ordered by topics by the Editor, including Parents/Children, The Elderly, Women/wives, Kings/Rulers [Today’s Subject], Messengers, Companions, Caution, Reputation, Courage, and Hope … Passage for Reflection: Proverbs 18: 11… NIV If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.
My Journal for Today: As Dr. Smith points out today by referring to the classic “The Emperor Has No Clothes” story, a king, political leader, or even a Church Pastor, can be ill served and get into very deep – very HOT – waters if he [and not bowing to political correctness, I say “HE” with a biblical reason] is surrounded by manipulative fools who use “yes men” tactics to protect themselves or control their leader.
Have you ever been a leader who did foolish things because you were given foolish advice which tickled your fancy but was not what you needed to hear to do the right thing? I’ve been there, done than, and as they say, “I have the T-Shirt” on that one. I’ve also been in the position of having to call out the truth when I knew that my “boss,” or the leader to whom I was responsible, needed to hear the truth and not what was politically correct or personally pleasing to him.
I’m convinced that some leaders, who make inglorious mistakes, maybe a President like Richard Nixon, do so because they’ve surrounded themselves by foolish “yes-men,” who’ll tickle their fancies rather than tell the truth. Hence, it is so important for leaders to surround themselves – or have access to – straight-talking, righteous followers, who will speak the truth in love and, like the little boy in the classic story, tell the King that he’s wearing no clothes.
I hope we all have someone in our lives, someone very close, who has a discerning spirit, … one who is Godly-wise, … and one who will confront us in love with the truth – THE WHOLE TRUTH – when we need to hear it. Personally, I need this badly because, by nature, I’m a very gullible man with a Jeremiah 17: 9 heart, … a spirit which is vulnerable to lies which make me feel good. So, I’m blessed, in my role of family Priest, Church Elder, and Ministry Leader, to be surrounded by a wife, Brother Elders, and ministry followers who, if I was walking naked into the world, would cry out, “Bill, you’re wearing no clothes!!!” And I listen to them; because I know they love me and will always speak the truth into my life.
I pray that you have truth-speakers in your life as well.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, I thank you for leading people into my life who speak the truth in love to me when I need to hear You speaking through them. Amen
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2 comments:
"Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counselors they are established." - Proverbs 15:22 KJV
And, most definitely, pick good, trustworthy counselors... those that that won't just tell you what you want to hear or advise you to tell others what you think they want to hear.. and particularly avoid the temptation of half-truths... for a half-truth is a whole lie.
Thanks for the thought provoking post... :)
God bless!
Amen, Brother! Again thanks for blessing me with your presence, insight, and comment. It humbles me - a good thing! PTL! <'BB><
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