Proverbs 11:10-11

The book of Proverbs gives us a lot of instruction on a lot of different subjects. One subject that can keep us in God’s wisdom is Godly Follower-ship. Who we follow; where we follow; how we follow are all spoken about in Proverbs. Here is one of them about leadership matters:

Proverbs 11:10-11 (ESV)

When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,

and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.

By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,

but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.

John Maxwell has written countless books on leadership.   One of his most famous quotes is, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”   He might have been reading the above words, actually written by Solomon centuries before Maxwell was born.   Solomon understood and experienced leadership.   He probably heard the valiant stories of his father, David.  King David was a conqueror and champion for God who brought peace and prosperity to the nation of Israel.   However, Solomon also might have heard of the sin(s) of his father.  There was the Bathsheba thing, but even years after that David had a thought in his heart and head to “number” the people of Israel.  They thought sprang from a boastful and arrogant heart.   As a result God punished David by bringing pain and death on the people of God.    This is why Solomon can write, “when it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices.”    The problem with nations, cities, organizations and institutions is the heart and soul of righteous leadership.   When there is a leadership framework that does not promote righteous behavior, the city (organization or institution) is “overthrown.”  This Hebrew word, “overthrown,” means to “breakdown, break in pieces, pull down.”   Leadership matters. If you listen to the people of a culture and they are under duress and struggle with a fragmented form of cooperation, you can typically look to leadership as the cause.   You can not escape the truth of this verse.    Yes, there can be great leaders who have poor cultures.   But, over time, the great leader will find a way to improve the poor culture.  Everything rises and falls on leadership.   Solomon said it years ago.   Today’s leadership gurus say it as well.   The way to improve culture, citizenship and the ethos of a country, city, organization or institution is to improve the leadership.