Don’t Let Arnold in the House

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool. (Prov. 26:1 NIV)

In our organizations, whether business, ministry, or government, it is vitally important who we let in. Adding the wrong person to the team can have negative effects. How many sports teams have signed a highly sought free agent only to find that they create more problems in the locker room than their production on the field? And we are seeing that in electing those that are contrary to the virtues and values of our nation can put us on the slippery slope toward collapse. In ministry, looking for the popular and talented without concern for character can cause untold problems in a congregation.

Years ago, to a group of new leaders, I used the example of a Captain of a ship when it comes to team building. Captains should carefully consider those they add to their ship’s complement. Captain Bligh’s favor and promotion to Fletcher Christian put him in position to have influence over others, which led to “Mutiny on the Bounty.” The supported behavior of a dishonorable subordinate is like boom-a-rang. Throw it and it will come back to you.

Like one who binds a stone in a sling is he who gives honor to a fool. (Prov. 26:8)

Back in 1965, CBS aired a television sitcom titled “Green Acres.” The storyline of this show is a good illustration of the point I am making. This show takes place in a fictional town named Hooterville and is representative of our ministries, workplaces, and governments. Two of the characters in the show were Fred and Doris Ziffel, and they held to a delusion that their pig, “Arnold” was their son. Fred and Doris represent the leadership of organizations that promote and place a fool into leadership. The other people of the town represent our society, church congregations, and employees. They are the ones that must live with the choice of who is placed in positions of authority over them.

Before introducing the final character, I want to go to a truth found in Matthew’s gospel. When Jesus instructed us to not cast our pearls before swine (Matt. 7:6), one truth is that we are not to give to people, that which they will not value, nor the character to manage. A pig does not know the difference between a pearl or a rock. A fool will not value people or the authority that they have been given.

Fred and Doris considered and called Arnold their son and allowed him access to the house. They insisted others in the town do the same. When organizations follow this behavior, they are usually practicing one of the deadly isms. Cronyism, favoritism, or nepotism deceives leaders by making relationships the key, or the only factor in hiring someone. It is possible to find a fool with talent or skill. You can educate and train them to a point. You can clean them up and dress them to fit the role. But this acceptance of skill and qualifications over the necessary character for the position will require that a compromise must take place in the greater necessities. Wisdom has proven that character always outweighs talent.

I wrote earlier that there is one other character of this show to introduce, Mr. Douglas. Mr. Douglas stands for wisdom, and he sees Arnold for what he is, a pig that cannot value the pearls (people) of an organization. Mr. Douglas’s view of Arnold is reflective of God’s wisdom that He has given to us by His servant, Solomon.

Eccl. 10:5,6a NIV
“There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler: Fools are put in many high positions…”

Eccl. 10:5-7 The Message
Here’s a piece of bad business I’ve seen on this earth, An error that can be blamed on whoever is in charge: Immaturity is given a place of prominence, While maturity is made to take a backseat. I’ve seen unproven upstarts riding in style, While experienced veterans are put out to pasture.

Mr. Douglas also serves as a contrast between the wise and the foolish. A contrast that the Proverbs are rich with. Let us look at some of these contrasts.

Proverbs 10:8 AMP
The wise in heart [are willing to learn so they] will accept and obey commands (instruction), But the babbling fool [who is arrogant and thinks himself wise] will come to ruin.

Proverbs 10:14 AMP
Wise men store up and treasure knowledge [in mind and heart], But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.

In both scriptures, the heart and the mouth are mentioned. Here, the heart is not referring to our blood pump but the inner man or woman. It is here that a person’s true character exists. One of the best revealers of the heart is what comes out of our mouths. Arnold spoke with grunts and squeals; a fool spews speech that is vile, discouraging, and critical. The perverse tongue of the fool will crush those under his responsibility. (Prov. 15:4)

There is also danger in giving a fool a place. It is in the final words of both these verses, ruin is at the end of a fool. The word fool in Proverbs is the Hebrew word “Kesil” and used almost fifty times. It carries the meaning of a special kind of stupid. I am not being cliché with my words, it is very straightforward in describing one whose stupidity comes because of apathy, anger, and an arrogance that devalues others. In the end they will self-destruct and take others with them. Let us consider with extreme judgement those that we promote into authority and enable to have influence.

“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”
Maya Angelou

So, whether in our ministries, the upcoming elections, or the offices and shop floors of businesses, do not be Captain Bligh and subject people to a subversive spirit of rebellion, or Fred and Doris and let a fool in the house.