Earning Trust (Part 2)

There are four more characteristics that Isaiah shares with us on the subject of "earning trust."

Each of these characteristics, if mastered, will enable us to survive the fires of crisis in our life. 

If I've learned anything about leadership it's this:  God will take each of us through a purification process through His fire.  That fire will either burn us up or purify us.

Isaiah 33:14-16 The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling seizes the godless ones. [They cry] Who among us can dwell with that devouring fire? Who among us can dwell with those everlasting burnings? 15He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises gain from fraud and from oppression, who shakes his hand free from the taking of bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes to avoid looking upon evil. 16[Such a man] will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; water for him will be sure. (amplified)

#1 INTEGRITY "He that walks righteously and speaks uprightly" (see previous blog)

#2 JUSTICE "despises gain from fraud and from oppression"

• Solomon says "...but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days." (Proverbs 28:16)
• A leader rejects dishonest gain.

#3 CONVICTIONS "that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes"

• The leader's values won't allow him to accept bribes.
• What is a conviction? = A firmly held belief
• A leader today has to have conviction!
• Leaders are to love and care for everyone.
• This however, doesn't mean they disregard their convictions.
• They respond with grace, but never drift from their convictions.
• They speak gently, but with focus.
• With conviction we cling to the course we are to travel.
• Leaders always act from their principles; empowering others even when it is hard.
• Leaders of conviction work out of grace.

#4 POSITIVE FOCUS "that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood"

• The leader refuses to dwell on destructive issues.
• A positive focus does not mean that you live with your head in the clouds.
• It doesn't mean you do not recognize the problems.
• you may have to accept some that you cannot change.
• You can even have a bad day and vent to the proper channels.
• In the end, maintaining a positive focus means that you don't dwell on destructive issues.
• A positive focus will alllow you to see solutions to problems.

#5 PURITY "shutteth his eyes from seeing evil"

• The leader disciplines his or her mind to remain clean and pure.
• A true believer watches against all occasions of sin.

___________________________

The blessing of possessing these characteristics of INTEGRITY, JUSTICE, CONVICTIONS, POSITIVE FOCUS and PURITY is SECURITY!

(v.16) He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.

• God will take you UP!
• God will DEFEND you!
• God will FEED you!
• God will REFRESH you!

Characteristics like these earn the trust of others. When leaders possess them, they feel secure enough to develop others, rather than destroy them. Remember, only secure leaders empower others.


Food For Thought:

• If a person really knows the Lord, Righteousness is going to be their lifestyle, which will be obvious; in other words, when a person comes to Christ, they are gloriously changed; otherwise, they haven't really come to Christ!