Do you pursue wisdom? (131-1)

Last week we finished six weeks of leadership principles in the book of Psalms. This week we start examining leadership principles in the book of Proverbs. Whereas the Psalms look at leadership from the view of relationship and emotions, the Proverbs display principles, values and the intellect of a leader. Read Proverbs 1:1-7.

The book of Proverbs was written primarily by King Solomon of Israel. Solomon was the son of David and ruled in Israel for 40 years. Most of the sayings in the Proverbs were drafted about 950 years before Jesus was born.

Solomon was probably the wealthiest man that has ever lived and was known throughout the civilized world of his day as the wisest man alive. According to 2 Chronicles 1 when God appeared to Solomon and asked Solomon what he desired, Solomon said, “Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours” (v. 10). God’s answer is found in 2 Chronicles 1:12, “Therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”

As an overview, just a few leadership lessons found in the book of Proverbs are:

• Good leadership begins with good wisdom and insight.
• Competency cannot substitute for lack of character.
• Leaders who avoid or fail to learn from adversity also fail to build character.
• Leaders who solve problems will never lack followers.
• Leadership is not exercised in a vacuum.
• Wisdom is available to leaders who pursue it diligently, but it is not automatic.
• Misguided leadership and selfish pride produce results in kind.
• Laziness can steal everything a leader has worked to achieve.
• God rewards leaders who do right.

Allow me to recommend a 12-month daily reading program that transformed my leadership and will change the life of any leader who applies what they learn. The program has a daily reading from the book of Psalms, the book of Proverbs and the New Testament. That may seem like a lot of reading but it takes about a half an hour a day. Not too much of an investment of time if it will in fact transform your leadership.

The plan is to read one chapter a day from the book of Psalms, one chapter a day from the book of Proverbs and one chapter a day from the New Testament. There are 150 chapters in the book of Psalms so you will get through the entire book just over twice in a year. Reading the Psalms will develop your relationship with God. The book of proverbs has 31 chapters so if you read the chapter in Proverbs that corresponds to the day of the month i.e. Proverbs 1 on the first, etc. you will read through the Proverbs 12 times in a year. Reading the book of Proverbs will give you an understanding of how to work with people. As to the New Testament reading, I recommend starting in Matthew and reading a chapter a day working your way through to the book of Revelation. You will get through the entire New Testament plus start over for about 100 days in a year. Reading the New Testament will help you understand Jesus’ leadership, the only model of a perfect leader to have ever lived.

To repeat one of the bullet points above “Wisdom is available to leaders who pursue it diligently, but it is not automatic.” Wise leaders strive to become better at the craft of leadership.