Imagine sailing a great ship through treacherous waters. The fog is thick, the waves are high, and in the quiet of the captain’s cabin, a seductive whisper begins. It is the voice of your closest advisor, praising your skill, assuring you that the course is perfect, and suggesting you ignore the unsettling readings on the compass. This whisper, the siren song of sweet, unchecked counsel, is the most dangerous sound a leader can ever hear. It is the sound of ego being fed, of judgment being dulled, and of disaster being secretly charted.
Whether you lead a sanctuary, a Fortune 500 company, or a nation, your greatest vulnerability is not external opposition, but the unexamined loyalty that promises comfort. It is time to turn a skeptical, discerning eye on the very voices that promise you success. Do you have the courage to question the compliments?
The Double-Edged Sword of Counsel
Leaders naturally attract attention and influence. This position of power means that the advice you receive is not always purely motivated by your best interests or the welfare of the institution you lead. The Bible warns extensively about flattery, hypocrisy, and self-serving ambition, reminding us that "The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps" (Proverbs 14:15). A leader must be prudent, recognizing that not all counsel is godly or sound.
The "sweet words" you hear might mask several destructive intentions:
Undermining Intentions: Some advisors may appear supportive while secretly advancing their own agenda, often at your expense. A chilling biblical example is Doeg the Edomite, who used his proximity to King Saul to deliver a seemingly helpful report that ultimately led to the murder of the priests of Nob (1 Samuel 22:9-19). His "advice" was designed to serve his own cruel agenda and Saul’s paranoia.
Reputational Sabotage: Advice can be subtly designed to lead you toward unethical or disastrous decisions, thereby destroying your reputation and career. When King Ahab sought counsel before going to war, four hundred "sweet-speaking" prophets guaranteed victory, proclaiming what the king wanted to hear. Only the prophet Micaiah spoke the painful truth of defeat, leading to Ahab's death. This demonstrates that popular, agreeable counsel is often the most dangerous (1 Kings 22:5-28).
Vulnerability Exploitation: Excessive praise and agreement can lull a leader into a false sense of security, making them complacent and vulnerable to genuine threats. The Scriptures are clear: "A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet" (Proverbs 29:5). Such flattery preys on a leader's ego, blinding them to genuine problems.
The Imperative of Critical Thinking
For the ministry, the corporate world, and the political sphere, the capacity for critical assessment is not a skill; it is a survival mechanism. God has bestowed upon every leader the intellect and wisdom necessary to navigate the complexities of their roles. As it is written, "Test everything; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). This command applies not just to spiritual matters but to all counsel received. Your primary duty is to filter what you hear.
In the Ministry Domain, the call to filter involves questioning counsel that deviates from core ethical or theological principles, as the stake is the integrity of the faith and the spiritual welfare of the flock. In the Corporate World, the filtering involves scrutinizing reports and recommendations, especially those promising immediate, unrealistic gain, because the stake is the financial health and ethical standing of the enterprise. And in the Political/Government sphere, the filtering requires critically evaluating policies and public sentiment that appeal to short-term popularity but threaten long-term stability, as the stake is the welfare and future of the nation or constituency.
Practical Steps for Discerning Leaders
How does a leader move from passively accepting counsel to actively discerning it?
Question the Source, Not Just the Message: Before accepting advice, ask yourself: What is this person's history? Do they have a vested interest in the outcome? Are they known for integrity and sound judgment? King Rehoboam, son of Solomon, is a classic case study of poor discernment. He rejected the wise, temperate advice of the older counselors and instead chose the aggressive, self-serving counsel of his young friends, leading directly to the division of the kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 12:1-19). His failure was in trusting the wrong source.
Seek Counter-Arguments: Actively solicit advice from individuals known for their differing perspectives. A well-rounded decision is tested by opposition, not validated by uniform agreement. While dealing with legal matters, the Old Testament established the principle that truth must be established by "the evidence of two or three witnesses" (Deuteronomy 19:15). In leadership, this translates to gathering multiple, often contrasting, viewpoints to find the objective truth.
Cross-Reference the Facts: Never base a major decision solely on one person’s account. Always verify the data and facts independently. Your decision must rest on objective truth, not subjective opinion. The Enron scandal in the early 2000s serves as a powerful modern case study. Leaders within the company accepted financial reports and accounting advice that promised unsustainable, fabricated growth without critical questioning or independent verification. This failure to cross-reference the facts led to one of the largest corporate bankruptcies in history and the conviction of top executives.
Engage Your Inner Wisdom: Recognize that God has given you the ability to think. Use your own conscience and experience to weigh the advice. If something feels wrong or unethical, pause and reassess, regardless of how persuasively it is presented. The Apostle Paul prayed that believers would grow in "knowledge and all discernment" (Philippians 1:9), emphasizing that wise decision-making is a spiritual gift to be cultivated.
Establish a Confidential Circle: Cultivate a small, trusted inner circle of genuine mentors and friends, not yes-men, who will speak truth to power, even if it is painful. Moses had his father-in-law, Jethro, who offered unsolicited but invaluable advice on delegation, which Moses humbly accepted and implemented, saving himself from burnout (Exodus 18:13-27). This demonstrates the need for a non-threatening, objective advisor.
Final Thoughts
The true strength of a leader lies not in the volume of people who support them, but in the quality and discernment applied to every word received. The highest compliment you can pay your advisors is not blind obedience, but vigilant scrutiny.
Your skepticism is not a sign of distrust, but of maturity; your questions are not challenges to loyalty, but pillars of integrity. Remember the chilling fate of leaders who listened only to the comfortable voices. Your reputation, your institution, and your legacy hang in the balance. Go forth, lead with courage, and let your discernment be sharper than any sword.
Exploring life, one thought at a time.
Yours dearly, Rumishael
0 Comments