Proverbs 31:4
"It is not for Kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine,
or for rulers to desire strong drink"
This is a proverb of the temptations of leadership that you would use your position of authority and power and influence to pursue lust and sexuality and/or would pursue drugs and drink. It is a tragedy when someone with influence and leadership squanders that leadership opportunity on what our society calls partying: sex and booze.
This would suggest that there is a great temptation for these two vices when one gets into a position of leadership. One must guard against these seductive voices when leadership increases for the opportunity to squander your life and your leadership opportunities will present themselves. If you are pursuing sex and alcohol, then you will miss the chance to help real people with real problems while you invent problems of your own.
This is a proverb about being a good leader. The good leader cares deeply about the members of his team winning and also those that he is serving, winning. He is not allowed or oriented toward himself winning – that is a by-product of those he serves winning and his team winning. Leadership goes awry when the leader begins to indulge his own definition of winning at the expense of those he leads or those whom he hopes to serve.
Giving into the temptations of alcohol or strong drink and chasing women are the classic signs of a leader who is not seeking others winning but personal pleasure and satisfaction. That is a sure sign of a lousy leader.
God wants leaders who every day and everywhere say, "How do I help these people win?" "How do I make sure that the people on my team win?" This is the definition of the biblical servant leader. “I want you to win. I know that my ambition, my expectation, my goals are for you to win at the game of life.”
Until tomorrow,
Gil Stieglitz