Discretion and Diligence of a Leader

Proverbs 19:11 (MSG) Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget.

• (NIV) A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.


• (AMP) Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense.


• Exodus 34:6 (NIV) And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…


• Isaiah 48:9 (NIV) For my own name's sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to cut you off.


• Proverbs 14:29 (NIV) He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.


• Proverbs 16:32 (NIV) He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.


• Ecclesiastes 7:9 (NIV) Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools.


• James 1:19 19 (NIV) This you know, [Or Know this]my beloved brethren But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;


• Matthew 5:22-24 (MSG) I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother "idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell "stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill. "This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, 24abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.


• Matthew 5:44 (NASB) But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…


• Ephesians 4:32 (NASB) Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.


• Colossians 3:13 (NASB) …bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

The verses above say it all to us as leaders and followers. It does not matter. You want to follow the master model of both. Jesus, who followed his Father’s will and not his own is our perfect model as we follow. Jesus, who lead the Apostles and others in such a powerful way that they were willing to die for following His lead, is our perfect model for leading.

You want to have that kind of impact on people? We are most like our model when we are compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness (see Ex. 34:6 above). But there’s more: when we exercise patience it honors His name (see Isa. 48:9) above). It is our duty to practice patience and show compassion.

Anger has its place, and that anger is called righteous anger. This anger is potent with the kind of energy needed for leaders and their team to conquer evil when it is manifested. It’s the kind of anger that drove the creation of MADD and like organizations. It’s the kind of anger that define some missionaries who stay in places where evil reigns because they can provide medical or other help to those who desperately need it even in the face of evil. Wrongful anger, (see Matt 5 above) like calling someone an “idiot” or “stupid” only destroys the target of disdain – leaders are to build up, not tear down.

Discretion to defer anger and diligence to pass over a transgression in a way that gives the glory to God and not you – those are the qualities of a leader that will energize followers.


Copyright © 2006 by P. Griffith Lindell