Proverbs 31:4-7
“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress, let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.”
In the Book of Proverbs, there are many passages like this one that address the importance of wise, godly leadership. While the disciplines and principles of this passage apply to everyone, they have particularly application to those in leadership.
When I say leaders, I am referring to parents, educators, coaches, employers, pastors, and government officials. These are the people in our society who have a responsibility to lead effectively and wisely in their respective roles. The messages they communicate, the decisions they make, and the cultures they build have an enormous impact on people and society.
The core principle here is sober thinking. The Lord is telling leaders to make sure their thinking is not impaired or distorted by any intoxicating influence. Wine is used in both as an example in both a literal and figurative sense. First, don’t let wine or alcohol impair your thinking and judgment. Second, don’t let an intoxicating influence of any kind distort your thinking and judgment. In other words, be sober-minded.
In the NT, the book of 1 Peter speaks to this: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.” (1 Peter 5.6-8)
Peter is telling us that self-centeredness and arrogance are intoxicating influences that distort our thinking, and he thus instructs us to “humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God.” If you are arrogant, you are not sober-minded, and you are not thinking clearly. This is disastrous for leadership.
The Lord admonishes you to be humble, to trust him, and to obey him. The devil encourages you to be self-centered and arrogant, and to ignore God. Most of the time the devil is not trying to get you to disbelieve; he is trying to get you to disobey. The enemy’s goal is not to get you to reject God; his goal is to get you to ignore God at key moments in your life.
Peter also tells us to be sober-minded and pay attention. When impaired by an intoxicating substance, the mind does not see clearly or think clearly, and that puts you at risk. Notice that Peter warns us that the enemy is hunting, and he seeks to devour. What better way to “devour” a family or a school or a team or company or a nation than to intoxicate and deceive it’s leadership?
To avoid the traps and attacks of the enemy you need a clear mind. He is trying to lure you with deceptions and attractive lies. He is trying to catch you not paying attention.
In summary, an intoxicated mind is an impaired mind, and it is a mind at risk. Arrogance in particular compromises the way a person sees, thinks, and makes decisions. We need leaders who are humble and sober-minded. We need leaders who see clearly, think effectively, and make wise decisions.
More tomorrow …
