Get Wisdom for Leadership
In Proverbs Two and Three the word of God speaks about wisdom in leadership and in these scriptures in Proverbs they often seem to reflect a paradox of different styles of leadership. A paradox involves contradictory yet interrelated elements that exist simultaneously and persist over time.
As we are encouraged to get wisdom and understanding and to value godly wisdom we also read in Proverbs 2:1-5: “My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.”
We could think based on what James 1 :5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” And we imagine that God will simply fill us with a quality of wisdom when we ask Him. There are certain conditions and a process that describe the attitude the reader should bring in their quest for wisdom.
- In order to gain this treasure, you must excert effort in digging deep for it, the word “if” occurs three times in verse 1-4, indicating specific conditions for the blessings that are promised in verse 5.
- Divine knowledge is within the reach of the human understanding. God has created man with a need, and with capabilities of knowing Him, therefore He has placed such knowledge within man’s reach. We read this in Romans 10:8 “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach).
The conditions of attainin wisdom:
1. Attention: Listen to what the Teacher has to say, we must listen to His message and receive His words, “incline our ear.” “Faith comes by hearing.” 2. Retention: The hearing will not bless us if we do not hold the truth in our memory. We read in Matthew 13:4-8…. “But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” 3. Reflection: This prevents forgetfulness; this is indespensable to retention. Mediatate upon and apply our minds to them in order to understand them. Our soul which receives and holds Divine truth must apply itself to the understanding of it. 4. Supplication: As disciples we have the Bible, but knowing the Author of the Bible we can turn to Him and ask Him to unfold the meaning of the different scriptures and how to apply them. We have the Divine Word of God and the Divine Spirit the source of all wisdom, He has promised us wisdom, by asking in order to receive, ” if you cry out for discernment.” 5. Perseverance: Divine wisdom is like a mine which yields a little on the surface, but we never stop there. We must dig down deep, we must continue to hear, to remember, to meditate, to cry for enlightment – we ask , we seek, and we knock and search for hiddeen and exhausless treasures of wisdom.
We must also learn to trust in the Lord and then on wisdom from God our Father.
We read in Proverbs 3: 5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
In seeking knowledge and wisdom from God, Proverbs poses the question – have we learnt to connect with what God’s sees as important? Without God our wisdom can become knowledge only. God wants to give us revelation and insight with what flows from His heart on a daily bases.
Godly leaders think and act differently:
– Think of other people – and include them in what they do.
– Think of the big picture – God’s vision is bigger than their own.
– Think of continuous improvement – always looking for new answers.
– Think about results – what is the bottom line and want to see fruit.
– Think about ongoing growth – leaders desire growth in all areas of ministry life.
– Think outside the box – they never put God in a box.
– Think kingdom – God’s victory on earth, as it is in heaven.
– Think using their perception – they have a strong intuitive trust of God’s voice.
– Think servanthood- with a shepherding heart of love that values people.
– Think through priorities – they evaluate quickly and find possibilities.
– Think out reach – they have a high social awareness to help people.