Hello #wisdomcrew!
It’s been a wonderful season of learning at the Father’s feet in the company of God-loving, wisdom-seeking people. Thank you Tosin for the opportunity to share my learnings with the house. As we look into today’s chapter, I pray that you find a suitable word for yourself.
If any chapter of the Bible did open with a sense of urgency, it is Proverbs 29. To my imaginative mind, the first verse reads like a final neon sign flashing desperately in warning to that stubborn person who has ignored one too many cautions to make a much-needed change; or perhaps disregarded the soft, yet persistent invitation of God to do change their ways.
“He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” – Proverbs 29 vs 1
If you grew up a heady child, you would be familiar to some degree with this situation – your parents warning you while pulling their ears about a habit you either needed to drop or develop, but you shrugged off their advice, believing that they were out of touch with the times. If we’re honest with ourselves, it was only a matter of time before our refusal to heed wise counsel caught up with us and we had to pay the price for our choices.
If this was your story, thank God you’re still here. Thank God you survived those mistakes and hopefully learnt a valuable lesson or two. But as that popular song goes ‘yesterday’s gone, today I’m in need!’, so today’s verse is that neon sign reminding you of yet another habit, behaviour, or tendency that needs a change; or maybe an emotionally handicap or questionable association that God has been pointing to as something you need to let go of before it takes your life irredeemably off the course that he has set for you.
The Bible says ‘Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying…’ Don’t yield to the temptation to postpone your reform by saying “tomorrow, I’ll do better.” There is never a better time to start on the path of wisdom and righteousness than today.
My second critical takeaway is a series of verses which I have loosely strung together and called ‘The Leaders Lamp’ which opens with verse 2 saying
” When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.”
If the grapevine of your organization or the team you lead was a wall that you could put your ears to, what do you suppose the testimony of your leadership would be? You see, no one can hide their true colours when set on the pedestal of leadership. Our insides are almost always on display. Whether in the workplace, at home, or in our social circles – do the people you have influence and authority over have cause to thank God for your presence or do they groan in silence, praying for a messiah? What impact do your words have on the people around you? Do they feel built up, established, reduced or torn apart by your words?
#Selah
