April 26

Apr 26 - Today from Proverbs 26 we look at verse 8
"Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool."

Keeping in mind that chapters 25-31 of the book of Proverbs was selected and assembled for the specific purpose of instructing leaders and those who were training for leadership, we see in this chapter what kind of people not to enlist as personal staff, counselors and servants. In today's terms we think of them as executives, administrators, management, team leaders, foremen, etc. Leadership needs trusted personnel that they can depend on to get the job done without having to micro-manage them. This chapter warns leaders to be careful not to promote fools, sluggards, gossips or malicious people, and why.
The verse we are looking at today gives one of the reasons why it's not wise to promote a fool to a place of honor. By now, if one is a student of the proverbs, the fool has been pretty much defined. A fool has not developed a proper values system; what they value most is their own opinion and the fulfillment of their own desires. A fool has not developed the ability to see the bigger picture; they choose to exist in a world where they are pretty much the center of it. A fool seldom learns from his mistakes; he almost always looks for other people or circumstances to which he can lay the blame. A fool does not care to understand life as God intended; he lives life as he intends. I think you get the picture.
A wise person learns to identify the mocker, the fool, the simple and the sluggard. Not for the purpose of judging them, that is not the primary task of a leader. His primary task is to appoint capable people to positions of influence, authority and responsibility. How well he does that will determine the success of his leadership.
Today's little analogy is quite a graphic picture. There is a very specific purpose for the stone in a sling, and that is to find its target as quickly as possible. You can imagine the result of tying the stone to the sling. Not only does the stone never leave the sling, but the inertia of the unreleased whirling stone becomes a danger to the one handling the sling. When a leader gives a position of honor to one of his personnel, it is usually for the purpose of accomplishing something of significant importance within the purposes of the organization. A position of honor is usually given to one who has shown excellence in their handling of more mundane tasks. Promote a fool, and you can almost count on the fact that the target for which he was promoted will never be reached. The more likely result will be that the fool will attempt to use the promotion to benefit himself and will actually threaten to do damage to the reputation of the leader. Thus the analogy is complete.
Practical application: If you are a leader, or are training for leadership, learn to identify integrity within a person's character. Promote those who show both the understanding of the 'target' and the ability to reach it. Leaders need to take the time to study those who will be entrusted with positions of honor within the organization.
If you are a subordinate, dedicate yourself to learn the vision, purpose and program of your organization. No matter what your present position, learn to see the bigger picture. Serve in excellence with the constant goal of contributing to the bigger picture. The greatest in the kingdom of heaven are those with servant attitudes. This is reflected in the organizational structures of this world. Good leaders are wise to promote the humble in spirit.