GoWests!

So, continuing for a moment with this idea of being a “wisdom-giver”,  since my last posting I was asked the question,  “Can you think of a time when you blew it, and what would you do differently?”  Only one example, really?

I was once on the leadership team of a discipleship program.  One of the staff members had previously disregarded my advice, and there were instances when he had shown himself to be not only immature but rebellious.  His penchant for ignoring advice on the grounds of “I don’t know you well enough” had become “old”, and at times divisive.

An issue arose with him for which I had some real insight and helpful input.  I relented.  “I’m not going to waste my time with someone who doesn’t want to learn or grow”, so I said nothing.  Nothing changed for the individual, and I saw him remain at a stagnant growth phase.  I felt no responsibility or remorse; until a few days later I was jogging and the Lord spoke to me about it: “His discipleship is more important than your comfort”.  I was humbled.  So later I went to the guy and simply apologized and asked his forgiveness because I had avoided him instead of sharing something that may have helped him.  While doing that I didn’t share any advice, as that was not the purpose of the conversation, and I didn’t want to risk falling away from repentance into “justification” at that moment.  If he wanted to know, he could come back to me later (I have found that at key growth times my life it is important to let it “cost” me something. This helps concrete the lesson: it creates spiritual “muscle memory”).

How to do it differently?  I should have approached him earlier from a position of humility and forgiveness, not resentment, or fear of rejection.  I had allowed it to become about me.  I had allowed myself to take offense, and in doing so missed an opportunity to share (even just a little) wisdom.  I have tried to remember since then that it always starts with a heart to help others, not prove myself.

If we are involved in mentoring others, we need to embrace our own “cost” of discipleship, which will always be tested by the price of discipling others.

How deep are your pockets?

In a leadership development setting I was recently asked the question, “How might the skill of “wisdom-giving” be developed as a leader goes about his or her work?”

Obviously, this discussion demands a definition for “wisdom”.  Despite more sophisticated definitions available, I will simply provide my KISS (“keep-it-simple-sweetheart”), definition.  Wisdom is simply the loving, biblical application of knowledge.  Knowledge in itself doesn’t necessarily make one “wise” (1Cor 8:1).  It is in the application.

But what if people don’t believe in the Bible?  Interestingly, one’s opinion of the bible doesn’t determine one’s ability to apply knowledge Biblically: God’s promises and principles work despite who is “obeying” them, or why.  I am not talking about salvation, which requires faith in Jesus Christ, but of other promises of God that exist because of His very nature and character.

Wisdom ultimately comes from God.  One can attain it by following Him, and doing what He says: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov 9:10), and what is “fearing” God, except to look, listen, and do what He says?  You can simply ask for it with a humble heart (Jm 1:5,3:13).  He says himself (Mk 12:30-31), that the best thing to do is to follow the great commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

I say all of this to suggest that even though one can acquire wisdom, it does not guarantee a faithful transference of it to others, and this is the real question.  “How can we be wisdom-givers?”

For this to happen one must be a follower of the great commandment: to love God (getting wisdom) and love others (giving it).  In the moments I may have been called “wise”, or have “given wisdom”, I think I can honestly say it wasn’t in the context of a trivia competition, writing a text book or a curriculum, or seated on a throne surrounded by admiring listeners; it was in the context of responding to the needs or requests of others.

Listening, asking questions, understanding goals and context, and trying to help someone: simply being aware of the question “What advice will help this person the most?” I think this is the prerequisite for being the most effective “wisdom-giver”, regardless of context.  And this answers the question best: not how to get it, but how to be one who can give it.

Heather Holleman, PhD, speaking about effective persuasion, states that “Facts do not persuade. Facts argue”.  I would have thought that logic conveys wisdom the greatest, but perhaps considering the audience, relating, listening—loving others—actually does a better job of transferring wisdom.  Interestingly, an increasing number of texts on leadership seem to suggest the same thing.  Many are now focusing on how to help the leader personally, not merely professionally.

We can all do this—serve and help others—at work, home, in community.  With that, the first step to being a “wisdom-giver” is in place.  Why?  Because God is the source of all wisdom, and by thinking and behaving like Him, we open the door to His power and wisdom.

But what about those who do not believe in God, let alone follow Him?  Can they be “wise”?  Jack Welch, former CEO of GE: not a godly man, yet many would consider very wise in areas of business, market trends, and extracting excellent performance out of his people.

Other such individuals exist.  I once knew a man considered very wise and successful in his industry.  He performed the most amazing acts of kindness and generosity, selflessly at times, and has met with overall success.  But, he was also an adulterer and not a follower of God.  These might be considered men who possess “business” or “professional” wisdom.

On another plane there is spiritual wisdom.  Many understand, or at least believe in, the principle of reaping and sowing.  Some call it Biblical, some call it Karma.  I am not equating Hinduism with Christianity, I am just demonstrating that some people can act in “wise” ways, even Biblically wise, and yet not follow Christ.  It must be because God is always true to Himself, ultimately just.  But if one wants to help others, to be a wisdom giver, and not simply profit from it, one must act like God: love others.

So, I suppose that there is worldly wisdom, and Godly wisdom.  Using knowledge according to God’s standards (even unknowingly) can result in wise decisions, but perhaps not eternal benefit.

So, in response to, “How might the skill of “wisdom-giving” be developed as a leader goes about his or her work?”, my response is to know God (yes), but also to love people and try to serve, and help them.   Do this and you won’t simply be relying on your own knowledge, but tapping into the infinite perspective and wisdom of God himself.

“…it’s the the reason for the season!”

With the present over-the-top, beyond-reason (and our pocket-books) marketing of Christmas, is it any reason we need reminders like this? But, what does this mean anyway? Within the maze of religious humanism which we can so easily find ourselves in today, have we lost our perspective? “True north”, so to speak? Here’s another way to look at it; God meant for the shepherds to follow the angel’s instruction to the Christ; the star for the Magi; for Christ to walk obediently to the cross; and for us to follow him to the Father.

So, when we look at the star or the angel on top of the Christmas tree, what does it mean again? The arrival of Immanuel, of course. Baby Jesus. God in the flesh, as a man, on this earth, …the messiah. “True North” is more than baby Jesus; it’s a life that would lead to death on a cross, which would lead to life.  Follow these next thoughts with me…

In Paul’s letter to Titus he speaks of God’s infinite knowledge and intentions for mankind. Titus 1:2 says  “in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,”. Before time as we know it, before creation, God’s will was set: to send a savior. Remarkable. Even knowing that man would sin, God completed His beloved creation, committing to sacrifice His son in order to finish the task and ensure eternal relationship.

Luke 2:25-32. Here is Simeon, a faithful priest of God serving in the Temple, whom God promised would see the Messiah during his lifetime.  Simeon prophesies under the power of the Holy Spirit the destiny of this child:  “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

John 3:16-17. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.“

“So why did Jesus come, again?”

Luke 22:15. “And he said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.’ ” Everything Jesus had done in life had led him to this point. He knew exactly what this passover represented. He was to be Passover lamb this year, for all people in every nation, living in any time period. Eternal death would pass-over people’s sin, and they could enter into eternal life with God. But, to have Jesus say, I have “eagerly”, (that is with expectancy, and joy, and excitement!) been waiting for this time…? That is too incredible for me to fathom. Truly, his joy at the result of his obedience in death, was outweighing the coming torture.

Exodus 3:8. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey-” Moses encountering the burning bush wasn’t simply about Moses receiving his calling. That happened, that’s a fact. But why…? To fulfill God’s covenant with Abraham, create a nation, and through that covenant bring Jesus to save mankind, forever.

Among all of the other paradoxes in Christianity (lose your life in order to gain it, be last in order to be first, God is greatest in our weakness, death = life…) surely the fact that an innocent baby comes to live a perfect and pure life, and be sacrificed for others who don’t deserve it, tops them all. Couple that with the resurrection, and this is not just “good news” anymore, this is great news!

So, what’s the reason for the season? As my pastor said recently, “Something needs to change. We need to change our celebrating of the FACT that Jesus came, and instead celebrate WHY he came.” Not playing with semantics, but really, let’s ask ourselves; when was the last time we looked at the gifts under the tree, the wreaths on the doors, the extended shopping hours and so on, thinking the reason for the season is Jesus on the cross, bringing eternal life ?

Our response is not wrong in form: excitement, celebration, gratitude for gifts, the joy of giving to others, relationships, family, and more. But perhaps we are wrong at times in reason. Perhaps we are robbing ourselves of even more joy which comes through the realization of what it meant for Jesus to come as a baby, in order to die a man, for us.  A response of gratitude and worship is all we can give. Giving becomes more appropriate than receiving, and the way up is obviously seen as Jesus coming down to us, 2000+ years ago! The next time we greet someone with “merry Christmas”, be reminded to send out a quick prayer that they would also come to the realization of the real reason for the season; “Celebrate! God is here to save you!”

Please understand me, I love Christmas! I love the gatherings, family, the food (oh yeah, the foooood), the time-off from work, and all the rest of it! But, the enemy wants us to turn it into just another holiday; God always saw it as a marvelous outreach! That’s the reason for the season; Jesus. His life that pays for ours. His obedience, God’s grace, our gratitude. I can celebrate that. Can others?

Joy to the world! The Lord has come!

Merry Christmas! (not happy holidays 😉 )

JW

“…be brave for what?!”

I can almost hear Joshua’s voice, somewhere between Joshua 1:9, and 1:10.

Life moves fast these days (It’s already mid November of 2010!).  We always seem to be moving into our “next” thing.  As we do, bigger pictures, new horizons, and different challenges can come into view.  Let me leave something with you that the Lord was speaking to me while in Asia, when asked to present a short message to two different YWAM bases there.  It’s from the end of Deuteronomy and the beginning of Joshua.

In Joshua 1:6-9 we see the Lord commanding Joshua to be “strong and courageous”.  Twice in vv6 and 7, and once in v9.  However, we see the Lord commanding Joshua to obey the Law 3 times in-between.  A closer look shows us that in fact, the Lord was commanding bravery from Joshua only once on account of the battles he would fight and the land he would possess, in verse 6.  After that, all of Joshua’s courage would be needed regarding loving and keeping the Law.  Why would he need this?

Deuteronomy 31-34 gives us the answer.  After God commissions Joshua to be Moses’ successor, He goes on to tell them both that once in the promised land, the people would all “prostitute themselves to the foreign gods…”. (Dt 31:16)

Joshua: “Ahhh, so that’s why I’m going to need some divine strength.  …great.”

Lord: “Moses!  Write a song about me and my faithfulness, etc. Teach it to the people, and it  will serve as a witness against them when they sing and remember me…” (Dt 31:19)

Tackling “giants” is nothing to God.  Joshua had seen it before, and had hoped for the chance to see it 40 years earlier after the first spy-mission.  Since then, he also witnessed the fruit of unbelief and rebellion among a people.

Giants are one thing; tackling the hearts of people who rebel is another.  God can defeat giants, but He won’t force people to love and obey Him.  It is never the will of God that changes, but the will of man.

Joshua needed strength, courage, determination, and a love of the Law and God.  It would take all these things to maintain the direction and mission God had given him.  It takes courage to obey God, and even more to lead unwilling people to do the same.  For those of you in leadership, it also offers another valuable truth: we don’t get our validation from people.  Affirmation is wonderful.  But man’s approval (or lack of it) does not determine our identity in Christ.  Obedience is the natural overflow of a life impacted by the Gospel; the overflow seen in the life of a disciple.  The validation that counts to those who follow the master, comes from the master.  Joshua needed to understand that.  This truth would ultimately make him a better servant/leader for the people.

As you all go out in the next chapter of your lives, don’t forget the things God has told you, shown you, promised you.  The giants you may be facing are one thing, and God can take care of those.  We will always have the poor among us (Mk 14:7).  Injustice isn’t about to lay down the fight.  Sickness, disease, child trafficking… all giants God wants to, and can slay.  It’s the giant of our heart, our devotion to Him, that God won’t force (Rev 3:20).  Give Him access to this “giant”, and there is nothing God can’t do through any of us.

Open the door to Him, daily.  Be faithful, personally.  Be sure to stay true to His Word, the Bible.  Also, stay true to the word He gave you personally.  As “leaders”, there may be times when the people you are responsible for don’t want to go “that way”.  I am sure there will be times when you won’t be getting validation from man.  I realize that affirmation is important and valid to us as feeling people, but is it vitally important?  Important enough to tempt rebellion in us?  In our world today, it takes more courage to be obedient and pursue holiness, than be “relevant” leaders.

Be strong and courageous people.  Love God.  Love others.  Love the way He has made YOU!

Blessings,

JW