Wisdom

[Coaching Lesson #5 from our Serving Leadership Development Program—Achieving Organizational Effectiveness, Phase 4]

Wisdom can be defined as having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. Wisdom is that character trait that enables one to live an exceptional life. But how do we find wisdom? Wisdom is often obtained through the experiences of life, by making good and bad decisions and then learning from our mistakes.

There is a better way, however. God’s word and the guidance of His Holy Spirit provides us with the wisdom we need to make good decisions and keep from making costly mistakes. The question is—will we heed His advice?

Where can Wisdom be Found? (Job 28:12-28)

Wisdom seems to be in short supply these days. We see many leaders who are highly educated and very knowledgeable lack the wisdom to make good decisions. Instead of solving problems they only make things worse. Our churches, communities, states, nation, and the world, suffer from the lack of wisdom.

Job 28 tells us that only God understands the way to wisdom because He alone is the source of all true wisdom. True wisdom can only be attained by gaining a “fear” (respect) of the Lord (vs. 28). To fear God is to have an attitude of awe and humility before Him and to walk in complete dependence upon Him.

Wisdom begins when we humbly submit our lives to God and begin to depend on Him and His word for guidance. This requires us to give up our pride and self-reliance.

Consider the following verses and how they apply to leadership:

• Deuteronomy 4:6-9
• Psalm 90:12
• Psalm 111:10
• Proverbs 1:7
• Proverbs 9:11-12
• 1 Corinthians 1:19-25
• 2 Chronicles 1:11-12
• James 3:13-18

Discussion Questions:

1. Where do most people go to seek wisdom? Why do they go to these sources instead of to God?
2. Is knowledge the same thing as wisdom? Can one have great knowledge but lack wisdom? Why or why not?
3. It has been said that “a fool learns from their own mistakes, but a wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” Does this statement apply to you? Have you been like the “fool” or like the “wise man?” Explain.
4. Why is the pursuit of wisdom a lifelong process? Can we ever take “shortcuts” to speed up the process?