Skip to main content

February 15 Wanted, Wise Leaders


Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power. By wisdom kings reign and rulers make laws that are just. By wisdom princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. Wisdom says, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses fine silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full. ~Proverbs 8:14-21

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ~James 1:5

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is, first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. ~James 3:13-18

So, yesterday I wanted to talk to Wall Street. Maybe today, congress? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to know that we are in the hands of wise, godly leaders, both in government and in the church? It is a rare leader who can keep his focus on Christ, hear first God’s wisdom, and act according to what he or she is told.

Today, we see politics as such a dirty business. We need to remember, Solomon penned these words when nations were bowing to idols and sacrificing their children to them. Many nations ruled by brute force and superstition. The history of man’s government over man is a brutal one that has little virtue to claim.

Over time, it hasn’t gotten much better. One thousand years after Solomon lived, Paul exhorts Christians: “Everyone must submit to the governing  authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” (Romans 13:1) He wasn’t exactly referring to a virtuous godly bunch of rulers then either. In fact, snubbing one another and ripping up the State of The Union address were child’s play (pun intended!) compared to some of the goings on in Rome. Yet Paul says that even they were placed in their authoritative position for a purpose, possibly known only to God Himself, and that Paul’s readers were to respect that.

I think that what is sad is we read of all the blessings and benefit that our leaders, our government and we would gain if all of them would want to receive those blessings, that wisdom has to offer, but they don’t.

Wisdom says, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses fine silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.”

Of course, we all have these blessings available to us when we choose our big sister’s good advice and walk on her wise paths. And remember, we aren’t just necessarily talking about monetary or material blessings here, though it may sound that way. There is so much more that we could have if we choose wise ways. However, in this passage she is actually offering herself to our leadership. “Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power. By wisdom kings reign and rulers make laws that are just. By wisdom princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth.” We will see Solomon revisit this theme often as well, that the people are blessed when their leaders choose wisdom rather than earthly power and charisma to reign.

We really need to continue in prayer for those over us. I know that it’s hard and easy to get discouraged and think that it doesn’t matter. It’s especially hard to pray for those we may vehemently disagree with, but in truth, they may need our prayers the most. Consider this, we may also need to keep praying for our opponents because it is one way that we can love those that we consider an enemy. That is surely a prayer that Christ will smile at. We can pray that our leaders can stop seeking their own way, their own power and their own fame and instead, seek the wisdom that God is offering them readily and freely, for all our benefit.

Prayer: Father God, Sovereign Lord, I pray that our national, state and local leaders, all our elected officials and appointees like judges, would all acknowledge your rule and wisdom. I pray for them to read Your Word and listen to Your Spirit, so that we can all benefit from the blessings that would flow through godly righteousness. In Jesus' name. amen.

Song: God of Our Fathers 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

258. "Remember, Always Remember!"

Exodus 12:1-30 Key Verse: "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord a lasting ordinance." Exodus 12:14 "Celebrate the feast of unleavened bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come." (Exodus 12:17) "And when your children ask you, "What does this ceremony mean to you?" then tell them, "It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when He struck down the Egyptians." (Exodus 12:27) The original act was an act of worship as the first true act of freedom for the people of Israel. They had been brought to Egypt by Joseph during a time of famine so that through Joseph God could preserve their lives. ( Genesis 37 , & 39-50 ) After Joseph died, however, instead of heading back to C...

August 13 What Is Fitting

It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury—how much less for a slave to rule over princes! ~Proverbs 19:10   On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man!” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. ~Acts 12:21-23  Wow! Well, what in the world can there be to benefit us here? First of all, perhaps we should review the first Biblical definition of a fool, penned by no other than Solomon’s Father, David himself. “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 14:1 and Psalm 53:1) It is not fitting for the fool to live the blessed life. Why should they when they deny from whom all blessings flow?  King Herod was a fool. Now, just to be clear, this is not the Herod who ruled at Jesus’ birth and ordered the slaughter of the male children in Bethlehem. He ...

July 26 Time for A Wellness Check Up

This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind? All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger. Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work, this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart. ~Ecclesiastes 5:16-20  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret to being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everythi...