Written by Barry-Werner on March 10th, 2011. Posted in Character, Decision Making, Dependence on God, Discernment, Jeremiah,Leadership Principles, Listening, Obedience to God, Old Testament, Personal Development, Purpose/Passion, Situational Leadership,Wisdom. To be effective, wise leaders must find the real truth even when they receive contradictory counsel from multiple advisors. Read Jeremiah 38:14-28. The Babylonian army had surrounded Jerusalem and built siege ramps to take the city when Egypt made a military flanking maneuver that demanded Babylon divert its entire force to solve that problem. When the Babylonian troops left Judah to battle the Egyptians some of King Zedekiah’s counselors used the temporary retreat to validate for the king that God was protecting His city and that Babylon would never capture Jerusalem. When Zedekiah put this question to Jeremiah, Jeremiah gave him the truthful answer that God had judged Jerusalem and Babylon would return and this time capture the city. Zedekiah had conflicting information and which he chose as truth would hold in the balance his life, the life of his family and the lives of most living in the city. What leader has not been in this position? Different trusted counselors give conflicting advice. The effective leader cultivates good advisors but even advisors who have the leader’s best interest at heart may not agree on everything and will have conflicting opinions. It would have been easy for King Zedekiah if he had only understood Jeremiah was the only representative of the sovereign God, but he wasn’t sure. It would be great for today’s leaders if they knew for sure that one of their advisors is speaking directly with the wisdom of God but how would they be sure. Short of knowing without a doubt that God’s representative is on their staff, today’s leaders can build a team of counselors who together will seek God in prayer believing one of them will hear from God with His wisdom and direction. Wise Christian leaders choose counselors who have a heart match with them personally, a talent match for the organization’s needs but most of all a spirit match that will function in consort with other advisors to seek God’s will. But even with a fully aligned, God-honoring, praying team, a leader may still find their team has differences of opinion. In that case the leader still needs to find the truth and the following criteria may help: 
Can you find truth even when advisors disagree? (164-4)
