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:
Proverbs 28:16 (NASBStr)
A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,
But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
Proverbs 28:16 (ESV)
A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
In this chapter Solomon must be looking in the mirror. He is doing what I call in my leadership training: Mirror Work. A leader who only looks at the problems of those they lead is only doing Window Work. Looking outside the window of their life at all those who pass by and trying to figure out how to lead them and move them to where he/she wants them to move and how he/she wants them moved. This is good and necessary work, but before we do Window Work we need to close the window and note, first, our reflection. Mirror Work is much more tense and personal than Window Work. Here in this Proverb we see Solomon noting that a leader who has a personal agenda and wants to only accomplish his/her own own gains via "oppression" is a fool (lacks understanding). But, the second line shows the real genuine focus of leadership: Hate unjust gain (financial gains, production gains, psychological gains). A leader who does not seek to gain anything politically, psychologically, financially, or any other avenue is one that will remain in leadership. True leadership that lasts is the leadership that seeks justice and doing what is right. Poor leadership tries to oppress others to get what they want. Those who seek a just approach to leadership find themselves in lengthy leadership situations.
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