Today in our Inspired Leadership Minute I want us to look at Proverbs 17:7: “Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool-- how much worse lying lips to a ruler!”
There is a lot to unpack in this proverb!
The phrase “arrogant lips” literally means “lips of excess” referring to someone who talks too much. The Hebrew word for “fool” means someone who lacks spiritual perception or understanding.
So the first half of this proverb, “arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool” refers to someone who talks too much and doesn’t know what they are talking about.
The second half of the proverb, “how much worse lying lips to a ruler” warns of the ruler or leader who lies. In this case, Solomon says a lying leader is even worse than the fool who talks too much!
What does this mean for us as leaders today?
Christian leaders, be wary of men who talk a lot but clearly lack spiritual perception. These men are especially dangerous because often they are eloquent, persuasive speakers.
Also, be wary of any leader or official who lies. A leader should be a man or woman of integrity, honest, and trustworthy. A leader who lies does not have integrity and does not deserve our trust!
That’s it for this week’s Inspired Leadership Minute. My prayer is that together we will be the powerful, inspired leaders God intends us to be!
Please leave me a comment and let me know how this week’s Inspired Leadership Minute inspired you!
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Today in our Inspired Leadership Minute I want us to look at Proverbs 17:7: “Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool– how much worse lying lips to a ruler!”
There is a lot to unpack in this proverb!
The phrase “arrogant lips” literally means “lips of excess” referring to someone who talks too much. The Hebrew word for “fool” means someone who lacks spiritual perception or understanding.
So the first half of this proverb, “arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool” refers to someone who talks too much and doesn’t know what they are talking about.
The second half of the proverb, “how much worse lying lips to a ruler” warns of the ruler or leader who lies. In this case, Solomon says a lying leader is even worse than the fool who talks too much!
What does this mean for us as leaders today?
Christian leaders, be wary of men who talk a lot but clearly lack spiritual perception. These men are especially dangerous because often they are eloquent, persuasive speakers.
Also, be wary of any leader or official who lies. A leader should be a man or woman of integrity, honest, and trustworthy. A leader who lies does not have integrity and does not deserve our trust!
That’s it for this week’s Inspired Leadership Minute. My prayer is that together we will be the powerful, inspired leaders God intends us to be!
Please leave me a comment and let me know how this week’s Inspired Leadership Minute inspired you!
I always liked that Billy Joel song “Honesty” with the lyrics “honesty, is such a lonely word, everyone is so untrue.” I remember the Catholic priest in my childhood catechism classes often spoke about the importance of honesty and truth. “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” -1 John 3:18 (NIV)