Righteous People Need Righteous Leadership
Word-Of-The-Day: ‘When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.’ (Proverbs 29:2); If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.’ (Proverbs 29:12)
Last week, a Baptist church in Bradenton, Florida received the unfortunate news their senior pastor was arrested for possessing child pornography. As the leader of their church, his actions not only discredited himself and brought about his arrest and termination from his position, but it also brought great pain to the congregation, who in news reports question their own ability to discern selecting a righteous leader, and the stain this has placed upon their ‘home church’ and the church as a whole. It was an unrighteous action by their leader that brought the people he led to embarrassment, distrust, and emotional hurt. Sometimes, the wrongful actions of a leader cause the Righteous to stumble into sin unknowingly or to go down the path of evil only to realize it when it is too late.
Proverbs 29 was written by Solomon (as was the majority of Proverbs), and though it bounces in different thoughts it generally focuses somewhat on leadership. When we talk about leadership, whether it is the person who leads a home Bible study or the President of the United States, it is hoped that person has integrity, honor, and is Righteous in action and thought. Solomon, with His Godly wisdom, is of course correct with people’s distaste for unrighteous leaders. When a leader is corrupt and self-serving or is doing improper or ‘wicked’ actions, it is not only detrimental to the leader but to the people who are being led.
Sometimes, the leader is Righteous but can be led astray by those giving him counsel. While there is a benefit to be surrounded by ‘loyalists’, those who understand and accept the vision and direction the leader is wanting to take his people toward, those loyalists must also give constructive criticism and not be sycophants, or ‘yes-men (or women)’ to everything the leader says, and the counselors must not have their own agendas that are not in line with the leader. If a Righteous leader has trust in his counselors, he listens to them and discern whether or not to take their advice.
If he succumbs to a particular bad piece of advice, as in Proverbs 29:12, it can lead to decisions that will take both the leader and his people down the wrong path. This path may be self-serving or rewarding to the counselor to the detriment of everyone else. This can lead to overall corruption as all the counselors can see their path to self-service is to steer the leader with bad advice away from the good of all to the good of self.
The best leaders are where they have Righteous counsel, to allow Righteousness to thrive. When Righteousness thrives, as it says in the beginning of Proverbs 29:2, the people rejoice as the actions and direction of the leader is Righteous and good. It may not always be pleasant, but knowing that it will lead to good eases any pain. People respond when they understand their plights will lead to good, though the current actions may be difficult. The best Righteous counsel for any leader is the Holy counsel of God, whose Holiness transcends Righteousness and brings the best of all things!
What can we who are Righteous do to support our leaders? First, we can pray for them, that they receive and follow the Lord’s instructions and guidance, that they maintain a relationship with Him and do right by the people they lead and serve. We can pray for their counselors and advisors, to also have a relationship with the Lord and not give advice that is self-serving but is beneficial to the people. Finally, for the people to follow their leaders when given instructions based in Righteousness, even if it may cause some agony and grief in the short-term, in order to get to a better outcome in the future.
Remember, it took 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, and years in taking over Canaan, before realizing the Promised Land. There was agony and grief in those 40+ years, but in the end came the Righteous gift God promised His people. It is the same today, with the people who are devoted to Him and His Son. We may not be basking in His glory just yet, but we must stay the course, obey and follow Him and His Word through this life to get to Eternity’s Glory that awaits!
