[This article is part of the “spiritual leadership today” study/discussion going on this year. For all articles in the series, click the Spiritual Leadership tab at the top of the page. To have them delivered, subscribe to The Brook Letter]
There are major challenges to a wisdom-based leadership model today. In a time when we look for quick and splashy accomplishments, wisdom is not a headline issue. Wisdom is not a sexy word. Passion is. Vision is. But passion without wisdom can burn people up rather than getting them to burn on. And vision without wisdom can lead to arbitrary or unrealistic goals, driving them down a road that ends in a cliff. Wisdom, in fact, is the driving force behind some of the boldest initiatives and strongest convictions that must be central to spiritual leadership. There is nothing tame about wisdom.
We have this unfortunate metaphor for wisdom: the owl perched high in a tree. Unmoving. Mysterious. Aloof. That is a poor picture of wisdom. Better to think of the eagle which, from a high altitude, is able to scan the details on the ground, ready to act in the blink of an eye.
Wisdom is about getting answers, but then we act on the answers, and that is part of the wisdom.
When any of us find a mentor who is truly wise it is like finding a gold mine. We know that wisdom is what we need. Not flash, not headlines, not adrenaline. People who have wisdom are like streams of water giving life. Proverbs 18:4 puts it this way: “the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.” (Note: that is the underlying metaphor of The Brook Network.) This is a picture we ought to readily grasp today since we talk about internet streaming, dialogue, and deliberation. Wisdom is like refreshing water, not a shot of caffeine and sugar.
So why don’t we dedicate ourselves to gaining wisdom–and then pass it along in a steady life-giving stream?
Another challenge today is that we have too many sources of cheap wisdom. In the past politicians ruled, and then economic giants. Today communications is the medium and it is the message and so the guru rules. Entering a bookstore today is not very different from Paul entering the agora of an ancient Greek city in which one guru after another marketed their wisdom. Today’s gurus are political pundits, nutrition experts, motivational speakers. A toothy smile can anchor one’s position as a religious leader of the masses.
Like insects attracted to lightbulbs in the night, people are attracted to anything that shines–power, wealth, success, physical attractiveness. And the tragedy is when people assume that such luminaries have a secret worth embracing.
There is a secret worth following: “God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began” (1 Cor. 2:7).
So what will it take for us to restore a wisdom-based model of leadership?
First, we must crave wisdom. God told Solomon he’d give him anything, and instead of fortune or power Solomon longed to have wisdom “to govern the people well.” Its what he really wanted. We need to ask ourselves if we truly value and long for wisdom both because we are desperate for the spiritual skill to lead well, and because we admire wisdom, wherever we find it.
Second, we must ask for wisdom. It is a simple thing, but when James says “if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,” he is telling us to set a pattern of continually asking for wisdom. The smartest parents, teachers, managers, business owners, healthcare workers, pastors, and missionaries never assume they have reached a point in life where they are wise enough for every contingency. Wisdom cannot be the occasional bonus, it must be at the center of every leadership decision, small and large. To look for wisdom only sometimes is to risk foolishness most times. And wisdom-seeking helps shape our prayer-life as leaders. If we only pray for outcomes, we are short-circuiting the way God wants to help us achieve good outcomes. We are told to pray for wisdom because God wants us to engage our minds and hearts in achieving those outcomes. And then we have been trained for the next opportunity. The classic prayer of spiritual leadership is: “Lord, give me wisdom.”
Third, we must pursue wisdom. Deep study of and meditation on Scripture is a direct infusion of wisdom. Superficial reading does the opposite. Partial biblical truth leads to a veneer of spirituality on what we were planning on doing anyway. Investing time in the study of Scripture is one of the most loving things we can do for the people we lead. We should also pursue the wisdom that other believers possess, which they are supposed to be giving away anyway. The Holy Spirit pours out spiritual insight on multitudes of people we meet, and the biblical mandate is that we learn from each other. Pursuing wisdom takes time. It takes energy to get connected with other people. But there is no substitute and there is no shortcut.
What do you think?
Mel – Your perspective is dead-on and an antidote to the confusion of the moment. I continue to pass these Brook Notes on to my corporate colleagues as we work to develop leadership talent in a wholesome way. Our distraction for things that are not along the path of wisdom has concequences and that fact is clearer to me each day. Thanks for stepping into this topic again!
Thank you, Mel, for this treasure. We have some models of wisdom in the senior adult ministry. It is why I often sign my letters, “Thank you for being my teacher as I learn to be your pastor”. This note today applies to every area of my life. Continue to listen well to the Holy Spirit as you shepherd us.
Pastor – I have always loved the spirit of truth that you write and speak of. You have written about a fundamental truth of righteous spiritual christian maturity. Wisdom is the pursuit of distinguishing good from evil. For indeed as the bible writes in Hebrews 5:12-5:14 NIV In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Thank you.
I appreciate your insightful wisdom to share the thoughts on wisdom. God bless and keep you.
Thank you for your insightful and God-led words. They have led me in a new direction this morning.
In Proverbs 8.1-6 Solomon says that the winsdom calls out everyone that is in any position or situation to gain prudence, understanding, for she has worth things to say. Even thought, as Pr. Mel has remembered us, James 1.5 says that if anyone lacks wisdom,he should ask God. So we have a degree of progression: we lack winsdom, we ask God and she is ready to answer giving us prudence, understanding, and much more worth things to us.
Thank you Dr. Mel for sharing your wisdom with us. You are right when you say that the pursuit of wisdom takes time, which is why it is a constant battle for me, and, I suspect, many others – should I really take “all” that time, “just” reading and “just” meditating on the Word? But, for lack of wisdom (vision) the people perish…
Thank you once again, Doctor. That shot of wisdom was just what I needed. Please keep up the good work. God bless you.
Dean
We are starved for wisdom but those we would turn to (instead of God) are quite often corrupted by the power they wield from the pulpit. They assign themselves (and we let them) as God’s personal assistant and thus believe they are God (and convince us they are too).
Then, they use us against each other, play politics, abuse children and congregants and attempt to hide it; or worse, their overseers try to push it under the carpet.
At least, if we are listening, watching, praying, we begin to realize the only One to turn to is God!
How wonderfully put. I love the 3 step approach you outlined – crave, ask and pursue. And, more importantly, you have reminded us of the best core source of wisdom. Thank you for today’s message. I have printed it out so I can keep it fresh and visible.
I think it was wisdom from God that lead to the Brook letters in the first place. How one’s spirit craves direction and wisdom in a world spinning out of control. I save each of these lesson’s to read, re-read, and send on to my sons and friends. The Brook Letter is practical wisdom on a weekly basis and I for one remain ready for the life giving water for my soul and thankful for the leadership in my daily life. The wisdom in these letters helps me better use my Bible in my many times of need!
Thanks so much for the insight. It is true that many times I just pray for the outcome when I need to pray for wisdom. I think I don’t have time to search the Bible for wisdom, but it actually creates time and allows me to handle the same situation better in the future.
I know that the situation does not matter. What matters is that God is in it and has a plan for how he wants me to react. Stress is sin because it is not trusting God, and I am a sinner!
Great article, Mel. Thank you.
You’re welcome, Robyn.
Good article, I especially resonated with your last point. Wisdom is intertwined with relationships with people. You said “Investing time in the study of Scripture is one of the most loving things we can do for the people we lead.” A revelation for me this year is that my insights from morning quiet times can not remain with me. I want to apply them to my life my communicating them one way or another with those around me, Christians and non-Christians. It´s been a blessing to see fruit from this, and it all goes back to time I regularly spend with the Lord.
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