Selecting the Right Leaders: Part III

As many businesses rebound from the pandemic, some are looking for new talented leaders. In Deuteronomy 1:13, God told Moses to select wise, discerning and experienced leaders.

Today let’s focus on discernment. The original Hebrew word describes discerners as those who can separate mentally or distinguish different concepts or ideas. Some translations use the word “understanding.”

Discerning people are gifted in hearing or observing something complex and making the complex simple and discernable for others to understand.

Proverbs 10:13 says, “On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding.”

Discerning means more than an ability to distinguish between two options, but also to know when to build a third one if necessary. Discernment allows one to have a much fuller grasp on not only the present problem, but possible future ones and how to find a way around most if not all of the situation. A discerning leader’s understanding will direct them to find new paths and abandon bad practices.

A strong leader for your team should be highly discerning. They understand what’s going on around them, which allows them to navigate through challenging situations with ease.

Questions For Reflection

• What is understanding? What do you understand? How do you know that you understand? Could you effectively teach another? How do you grow understanding or discernment?
• How can assuming you understand be damaging? What is the difference between understanding and discernment or is there one?