Proverbs 21.1
“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.”
Are you a leader? Is your heart “in the hand of the Lord”?
This proverb describes a godly, humble leader who seeks the truth and submits his heart to God. Although the proverb refers to a “king,” it describes leaders in any organization: business, education, government, athletics, the church, or the home.
The disposition of a leader’s heart is of paramount importance. That is because the heart is the executive center of a person’s life. It is the intersection of thinking, feeling, and choosing.
The scripture says that the thinking of a godly leader is in the hand of the Lord. The emotions of a godly leader are in the hand of the Lord. The decisions of a godly leader are in the hand of the Lord.
When a leader is committed to God and His truth, the Lord uses the heart of the leader to bless people with what the proverb describes as “a stream of water.” Water is life-giving, and in this context it is a metaphor for the wise decisions and beneficial actions of an effective leader.
In other words, a leader whose heart is in the hand of the Lord gives life to the nation / company / team that they lead. When leaders operate from character and competence, their decisions and actions are directed by truth, wisdom, justice, and courage.
As a result, good things happen for that nation or organization.
This is why the story of Ahab (and the other idolatrous and arrogant kings of Israel) is so heartbreaking. Ahab’s heart was corrupt, selfish, arrogant, and rebellious; therefore, he brought disaster to Israel. This is the inevitable consequence of hard-hearted leaders who reject God and His truth.
I ask again: Is your heart in the hand of the Lord? Are your thoughts, feelings, and actions directed by the Lord’s guiding hand? Are you a source of life-giving water to the people you lead?
Coram Deo
