I read Proverbs 16 today. Verse 13 really stuck out.
Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value a man who speaks the truth.
As a leader I have got to value people that speak honest truth to me. At the same time, leaders can’t listen to everybody. So who should a leader listen to?
People I can trust. I listen to people who have shown consistent love for Jesus, the local church and for me over time.
People who I respect. Its incredibly difficult to listen to anyone you don’t respect. This isn’t about whether or not I know the person…its about the question, do I respect their character, their competence, their Christlike heart?
People who get it. As a leader, I listen to people who get it. If someone takes a cheap shot because they heard a rumor or saw a piece of marketing they didn’t like, they have based their opinion off of a speck of the bigger picture. I don’t listen to those people at all. In fact, I completely ignore them. Everything we do at Revolution Church is about reaching people and some people just won’t get it.
People who have a heart for the house. Jesus has a LOT to say about the state of our hearts and His bride, the local church. If you are always hating on Jesus’ bride, I’m tuning you out. I don’t want any part of talking bad about the bride of Christ.
People who believe in unity. Everyone loves the idea of unity but not everyone is willing to have the discipline and do what it takes to be truly unified. Unity takes great sacrifice in many ways. I listen to people who are passionate about being united under one God-given vision.
The list could go on. Just some thoughts. Who gets access to your heart? What honest lips are you taking pleasure in?
