Proverbs 16.10
“An oracle is on the lips of a king; his mouth does not sin in judgment.”
Continuing with the theme of how we use words, I want to revisit this verse from Proverbs 16. This is a deeply profound and powerful proverb, and it deserves much thought and prayer for anyone in a position of leadership. The immediate reference is to a king, but it applies to any leader in any organization. It is a description of what should be. It is not a description of what most leaders actually do; it is a call and admonition for what leaders should do.
The essential meaning is this: “Wise declarations and decisions are on the lips of a godly, effective leader. He does not make unwise judgments.”
When reading this verse, it is easy to go immediately to the unwise and contentious things said by politicians, and it certainly applies in that realm. President Trump would benefit greatly from heeding the advice of this proverb. So would the Democratic politicians and journalists who oppose him.
However, I encourage you to resist the temptation to apply this verse to the politicians you oppose and the media outlets with whom you disagree. While it does apply to them, that is not where you should focus. Instead, do the hard and courageous work of applying this proverb to yourself.
The call of this verse is to represent God without compromise in your role as a leader at home, at work, and in the community. In all of those arenas, what you say and the decisions you make have great importance. This verse calls you to think deeply before you speak or render judgment.
- It calls you to know the Word of God, pray constantly, and seek wisdom.
- It calls you to be humble and not trust your first impulse or personal preference.
- It calls you to reject self-centeredness and be sacrificial and selfless in the way you lead.
- It calls you to be careful about what you say, how you say it, and why.
- It calls you to consider that your words and decisions have consequences, so choose wisely.
This verse is also a sober reminder that the greater your leadership responsibility in the organization or community, the greater the impact of your words and your decisions.
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Psalm 141.1-3)
Trust God and do the work.
