"The wise of heart will receive commands, but a babbling fool will be ruined." PR 10:8
The sign of a great leader is not in their intelligence or their eloquence, but in their reverence for God's Word. Proverbs reminds us that The Wise will listen to His instruction, while The Fool will always fall in love with the sound of his own voice.
Jesus reserved his greatest praise for a Roman centurion who recognized that power comes from being under authority not in authority. Those who chase a position of authority without positioning themselves under God's authority are potential tyrants. They may present themselves as reasonable and electable, but in God's eyes they are rebels.
Not all rebellion is expressed in flaming rhetoric or riotous behavior. Some people blast through life politely ignoring God. On the surface they appear calm and collected, but in their hearts God's commands are completely rejected. Don't be fooled by them.
Leaders receive God's commands. Liars reject them, babbling about their new and improved alternative to the challenges of the 21st Century. They rarely say the words, "God is dead." They just act as if God is irrelevant. Actions speak louder than words.
Receiving instruction from God is more than listening to His commands. It involves immediate obedience, with the right heart attitude. The wise of heart are receivers. The fool is a deceiver. Self-deception is always the first step towards a disastrous choice.
Note to Self: Prayer prepares your heart to receive God's commands, and to yield your will to His authority. When you fail to pray, you prepare to stray. When you won't receive His Word, you fall in love with the sound of your own voice, and take the advice of a fool.
TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!