By Rev. Nathaniel Garang Aduotdiit
“It is to one’s honour to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.” Proverbs 20:3 NIV
Leaders can be categorized into b, “honour is a reward for virtue” However, leaders often quarrel and strife firstly because, they are seeking to get the work done (speed) and secondly, they are seeking work done correctly (character)! Yet, it’s often possible that leaders can actually achieve the goal if they understand how the creator made man. And so, in that regard, leaders need to understand that people are human beings.
Their speed can’t be adjusted like a Robot and secondly, their character is not developed in a day, it takes a process to cultivate speed and virtues (character) in people. So foolish leaders neglect the duo and tend to mind their goals and Targets at the expense of the human factor. It’s saddening today to see human beings due to needs and pressure of life externally try to pretend to be what they are not, to be accepted for a job they aren’t ready for; and similarly, it’s quite disturbing seeing humans competing with robots and computers ( the question of performance). I Believe, partly, this is the reason why, there is so much high blood pressure or hypertension and ulcers among Workers!!
Man is not a “human doing” but, a “human being”. He is not to be defined by how much he has done, but, how much he is becoming! His growth and maturity. A mature man in skills and virtues can invariably do a lot of things, as the creator designed him so. This is, how Samuel grew,” the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and favour with the Lord and with people.” (1 Samuel 2:26) NIV and this is how Jesus grew, “.Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Luke 2:52 NIV. So, every leader need to take the time and labour to train and cultivate maturity in their people before demanding performance. Demanding performance and excellence without the needed training and skills is to willfully work against God’s design for man. (It’s Total abuse and destruction of man).
The third factor I would add that leaders need to consider carefully in dealing with workers is the spiritual influence. Workers can actually be possessed, controlled by demons and spirits. Like occultism, witchcraft, spells, etc. So, no amount of quarrelling can actually change such a person. Something More than quarrelling is needed to bring sanity and smooth supervision!!
And so, precisely, this is the cause of strife and quarrelling. Apostle Paul advised Timothy and says, “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition,
if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” (II Timothy 2:23-26) NKJV. This advice takes into account all three factors that affect the performance of human beings.
- Man is ignorantly fallen- he needs skills and education for maturity
- Man, though fallen is created still with dignity. He can be taught!
- Demons can influence and possess man- he needs deliverance.
Conclusively, wise leaders don’t quarrel and strife, rather, they ask God for wisdom and strength to enable them to bring a positive effect on their Leadership call.
God bless you. Very
Rev. Nathaniel Garang Aduotdiit, opinion writer on biblical reality