It's time for our weekly proverb again. Today we glean some wisdom from Proverbs 20.
Vs.2. Quick–tempered leaders are like mad dogs – cross them and they bite your head off. It's a mark of good character to avert quarrels, but fools love to pick fights.
Wise people are slow to anger. Take a deep breath. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you patience and the ability to delay your reactions. You'll be glad you did. Anger always gets us in trouble. Of course, it is pride that keeps us there. Is there anyone you need to apologise to today?
Vs.4. A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring has nothing to harvest in the fall.
Life is a process of sowing and reaping. This is the law of the harvest. If we don't so, we won't reap. There is always a delay between sowing and reaping, We always reap more than we sow. What good seed are you sowing today that will bear fruit tomorrow?
Vs.5. Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart; a wise person draws from the well within.
Counsel and wisdom take time to glean. They are often not on the surface of the situation or the conversation. Go deeper. Dig down. Draw out wise counsel – from the Spirit of God living within you and from good friends and advisers.
Vs.12. Ears that hear and eyes that see - we get our basic equipment from God!
Wisdom comes from listening (opening our ears) and observing (opening our eyes) what God is up to and what is taking place around us.
Vs.13. Don't be too fond of sleep; you'll end up in the poorhouse. Wake up and get up; then there'll be food on the table
Diligence is the key to progress and fruitfulness. Hard work never killed anyone but it sure pays off.
Vs. 15. Drinking from the beautiful chalice of knowledge is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems.
Wisdom (seeing life from God's perspective) is better than wealth. What are you pursuing more right now?
Vs. 24. The very steps we take come from God; otherwise how would we know where we're going. Vs.27. God is in charge of human life, watching and examining us inside and out.
We need a balanced view of divine sovereignty ("God is in control") and human responsibility ("I am responsible"). Underneath everything is God's hand of providence. He uses everything, even our mistakes and failures, for his ultimate purpose. I can trust God for that. That helps me sleep at night. He's God. I'm not. That's good news.
Vs.28. Love and truth form a good leader; sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.
Here are some good leadership qualities to aspire to and develop today – love for people, truthfulness (honesty) and integrity (meaning there is an integration between what people see and who I really am).