Leaders Find Wisdom

Proverbs 8:9-10 (MSG)  [Wisdom speaking] Prefer my life--disciplines over chasing after money, and God-knowledge over a lucrative career. For Wisdom is better than all the trappings of wealth; nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.

Wisdom is portrayed in this chapter as a women calling out to passers by. In my mind, I picture this woman to be unadorned, plain. Attractive if one were to stop and notice. But not loud. Not seductive. Strong, confident. Not flirty. I arrived at this from the word pictures used to contrast Wisdom and foolishness. The latter is seductive, alluring, sensual - the kind of women that are presented to our culture today. Shaped the right way. Dressed the right way. Smelling right. Wisdom, on the other hand, is not shaped by Hollywood, dressed by designers or concerned by about seductive smells. She "calls out" with words to live by, not words to seduce the listener. She offers advice, not empty flattery with flashing, saucy eyes. Her looks are direct and bore into the soul. No wonder she is ignored. She sees us as we are.

Do you have an accountability group that will help open up your mind to Wisdom? Minds have shut, not because of any real intention to ignore God, but shut down often just because of laziness. Dull thinking. Shut because of focus on the value of "silver and gold" and not the value of living God's way.

Our culture bombards us with images, messages and memories of the "rich and famous." We have become seduced by, cars, computers and clothes. Football, racing, all Sunday morning sports, have replaced faith, reverence and soul-searching. The act of Worship has been replaced with rallying behind our favorite team. And even when we find a church, its more about what is it doing for me than how can I meet God here and give back something to others.

Our culture demands of our churches things that the New Testament church never imagined. That church spent time praying and learning God's word. How very boring for today's culture. Church growth experts would shudder if Sunday were spent in prayer for one another - real prayer - study of the Word (in depth - not simply listening to a 22 minute message) and caring for one another's needs.

Those are the disciplines of Wisdom. And a small group can help facilitate that kind of care and concern. There are many business models for this kind of effort – just “Google™” marketplace ministries (my response gave me 4,880,000 for marketplace ministry groups in .20 seconds)! Wisdom can be found in the marketplace. Are you searching?

Copyright © 2006 P. Griffith Lindell