I feel like I’m the parent of a newborn or toddler being instructed on how to raise them—and it’s great counsel. In Solomon’s time, there was no higher target to influence than a ruler. The strategy to sway their will must have been something he experienced almost daily. He knew what worked and what didn’t. Yelling, harassing, instructing, begging, and bribing were certainly options, yet he offers the most effective approach—also the most difficult: patience and gentle speech. One of my personality assessments says I’m a motivator. It tells me—and potential bosses—that I lead people by motivating them. But when I reach a point where I don’t believe motivation is producing the results I think are best for a person or situation, motivation can turn into manipulation. In my desire to help someone become a better version of themselves, I can become a worse version of myself. That’s never a good thing. Solomon has a better plan. Becoming the best version of who God intends us to be is a worthy goal. Being patient with ourselves as He works in us is also vital on the journey to being conformed to the image of Jesus. Learning to speak gently—no matter how tense or demanding the situation—combined with patience, is what all children, spouses, employees, and others in our lives need to experience from us. Today, lead with these qualities.
#BeTheEdge
“Be kind and compassionate to one another…” Ephesians 4:32a NIV
