Leaders must always be watchful that they do not put their trust in expendable commodities. Read Matthew 19:16-30.

As Jesus’ popularity grew among the Jewish people a few individuals wanted to join Him and become a disciple so they could receive more intimate teaching. Jesus had a way of helping people see the commitment that would be required to be His disciple and to help them understand their motives for seeking to be close to Him. The man described in today’s verses had money, power, a good reputation, and good intentions. He also had up-side-down priorities. He had placed a high value on wealth and had placed his trust in his ability to influence others and situations with his financial prowess. The man was broken hearted when he realized his true value system revolved around trust in his financial independence rather than trusting in the eternal perspectives Jesus was offering free of charge.

When a leader is less than truthful it most often leads to other half-truths or outright lies to cover the first indiscretion. Read Ezekiel 13:1-16.

God commanded Ezekiel to prophecy against those who were false prophets in Israel. These religious leaders claimed they had heard from God and convinced the people they were speaking truth when they were simply speaking out of their own imagination for their own benefit. Ezekiel called the lies a “flimsy wall,” and the cover-up he labeled “whitewash.” Ezekiel stated that any enterprise built on falsehood has shoddy workmanship and is not built with quality on a firm foundation. He flatly stated that their attempts to cover up the lack of quality were like a whitewash that would come off the first time it got wet.

Every effective leader has justice as part of their value system. Read Isaiah 30:18.

When God shows compassion and justice He is simply being Himself. God’s passion for justice is a component of His moral perfection. God’s loathing for injustice is a component of His opposition to the destructive effect of unrighteousness. Anything contrary to the character of God always leads to the pain and degradation of injustice toward others.

Wise leaders recognize that their actions toward one individual or one part of their organization have the potential to affect everyone in their sphere of influence and in all the parts of their organization. Read Proverbs 29:2.

A leader’s decision made in one office can make people thrive or groan on the opposite side of the building and throughout the organization. The people’s reaction has to do with the character behind the decisions of the leader. I like the plain wording of the Living Bible for this verse, “With good men in authority, the people rejoice; but with the wicked in power they groan.” As the leader it is your basic outlook on life and your core value system that determines your decisions. It is the decisions that chart direction and policy that has your team rejoicing or groaning under your authority.

Knowledgeable leaders select their outside alliances carefully, understanding their own character and subsequent actions are shaped by these relationships. Read Proverbs 13:20.

Solomon wrote the Proverbs often restating the same principle in slightly different ways to make sure his readers got the point. For example, the following Proverbs in conjunction with Proverbs 13:20 make his point very clear: