The Look Of Leadership - Part Four
Proverbs 3:5-10
The Look Of Purity
"Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones."(Proverbs 3:7b)
In this study of Christian leadership, we have been looking at Solomon's words in Proverbs 3:5-10. As I have mentioned, it was not Solomon's intent to write specifically concerning Christian leadership, but in this passage of Scripture, we find the right characteristics of Christian leadership laid out for us. The look of faith, submission, humility, are crucial in what a Christian leader should display in his or her personality and position. And now we come to the fourth characteristic, that being "The Look Of Purity."
We could have begun this study with the premise of fearing the Lord.
It really begins there. Solomon even states in the opening comments in his book of Proverbs that: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."(Proverbs 1:7)
*Matthew Henry writes: "We are not qualified to profit by the instructions that are given us unless our minds are possessed with a holy reverence for God, and every thought within us is brought into obedience to Him."
This fear, is in essence a "strong, sincere, respect" for our awesome God. We are to respect His wisdom, power, and authority. And as Peter states:"But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy is all your conduct. because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:15-16)
To be holy, is to be "set apart." in fearing the Lord, we are to "depart from evil." A Christian leader must be an example of holiness and purity. We are to are to show a Christ-like example to God, to our family, to those who are in our spiritual charge.
I will admit that as a Christian leader, I have dabbled in the world.
I have not been as true to the calling of being a pure Christian leader.
I know that the saying "no one is perfect" is right, and yet, it is no excuse for not striving to be all that we can be in Christ Jesus.
The apostle Paul instructs us in how we can maintain a pure mind and lifestyle. In 2 Corinthians 10:4-6, he says: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." According to Paul's words here, we have the weapons to counter anything that is worldly, and is a stronghold of sinful thoughts and actions. And it does take determination and discipline to maintain this defense.
Robert Murray McCheyne said this: “In great measure, according to the purity and perfections of the instrument, will be the success. It is not great talents God blesses so much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God.”
Solomon goes on to say, that pursuing purity "will bring health to our flesh." Along with the pursuit of the poisonous thoughts and actions of this world, comes the spiritual and physical consequences that are very destructive.
Destructive to our physical state, as well as to our soul. Living a godly, pure life, produces better health, especially spiritual health.
This may be a wrong interpretation, but I feel that Solomon's statement here: "strength to your bones" refers to our stability, both physically and spiritually. The benefits of a Christian pure life, outweighs that of the world, any day of the week!
May it be said of us, as well as within our inner-self, that we are as Christian leaders, holy people of God, set apart, to live lives of sincerity, humility, and purity. What an impact we will make in the lives of others, when we are people like this! GP
* Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
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