Proverbs 12:9
“Better to be dishonored as a leader … than to only act like you are important …”
The road to leadership is a lonely one, and most people had rather be actors than leaders. They had rather manage what already exist instead of risking their present state to achieve a higher purpose. I once heard a motivational speaker say that one of the best ways to lose your job is to grip onto it too tightly. More than ever before companies are looking for leaders at ever level, people that have a passion to move forward. It is impossible to reach what is on top, if you are not willing to let go of what is on bottom.
George Crane writes, “A man who desires to lead the orchestra must first be willing to turn his back on the crowd.” It is impossible to lead without criticism. There is no doubt that a willingness to suffer and a resolve to succeed must follow any of our attempts to do what is right. Jesus told his disciples early on, “If any man will be my disciple let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” This they certainly did. However, they did this not really knowing where it might lead them. It was a step of faith and obedience. Reverend W.A. Nance writes, “Failure can be divided into those who thought and never did and into those who did and never thought.” I do not believe that Rev. Nance is referring to people of blind presumption, but rather to those of brave conviction. Once you have calculated the importance of any objective, there is nothing left to do but to act wisely and decisively.
A good description of the actors that Solomon refers to in this proverb would be “flaky”. This means that there is no depth in their experience or character concerning the reality of what they propose to do or want to be. They are stamps that simply won’t stick to their place. After a few moments of time pass by, they simply peal back from where they were put. Our society is chalk full of pretenders. This could be one reason why many in our country are so mesmerized by Hollywood. Instead of facing reality and finding a way to conquer it, many people are content to live in a fantasy. This world is full of people who love to put on a show, but when it comes to reality, people need more than a show. They need depth. They need someone with experience, courage, and ability, because life is not a fantasy. It is real. It has real problems and challenges whose consequences are many times tragically fatal.
The greatest times of human history have resulted when God has produced leaders throughout the world, who in the face of fear, complexity, and criticism stand firm in their resolve to overcome the challenges that evil influences are constantly setting before us. Whether in our home, business, government, or church, may we be determined to be contenders in the realities that we face, not pretenders in the fantasies that do not exist.
Pastor LaVaughn
