Heavenly Wisdom Part 4
After being pure, peace loving and sweetly reasonable, Heavenly Wisdom is “approachable and submissive.” The King James translates it as “easy to be intreated” and the NIV as “submissive.”
Humanly speaking, this sounds like a description of weakness, but actually is a quality of strength. To be a good leader one has to be humble, admitting that you don’t know everything.
The greatest dangers for a leader, especially a spiritual leader, is the natural desire for power and position. And these are maintained by keeping control over as much as possible.
A good godly, leader is the opposite: instead of controlling the people around him, he seeks to empower them. So he is open to suggestions from his followers; if they have a better idea, he will be glad to implement
it, and gives them credit for it! This really builds body life
If a leader is approachable, he will hear a lot of good ideas, but if he is defensive, standoffish, unwelcoming, his followers will keep their ideas to themselves, and probably eventually leave.
Heavenly wisdom recognizes body life, that each as different gifting and utilizes them. To be approachable and willing to opt for a better idea makes it better for everyone. As it says in Ephesians 4:18, “From [Christ] the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
This is really the goal of Heavenly Wisdom, edifying the body, glorifying God.
Picture: prescription for failure as a leader
