“Get wisdom; get insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.”
– Proverbs 4:5-6

We live in the Information Age, but alas, we don’t live in the Wisdom Age! As we’re flooded with more and more information it seems we have less and less wisdom. Each day it gets harder and harder to discern the true from the false and the important from the trivial. With this flood has come a widespread spirit of deception and general surrender of wisdom and “common sense”.

How do we pursue wisdom in an age of vast information and foolishness? The fear of the Lord remains the beginning of wisdom. Our pursuit of wisdom must be rooted in our own personal relationship with God and our diligent daily study of Scripture. That’s the beginning, the filter through which we must evaluate the rest of the information competing for our mind’s attention and real estate.

From that beginning, the principles for pursuing insight and wisdom haven’t really changed, we’ve just largely ignored them as a society. We don’t gain wisdom by exclusively listening to people who say what we already believe. We don’t gain wisdom only by having friends who think like us and agree with us. We don’t gain insight by only learning about topics that have always interested us. We must branch out to develop wisdom.

We must genuinely cultivate friendships with those different from us and listen to their perspectives (that’s also a Great Commission thing!). We must watch, listen, and read about different topics and different perspectives. We don’t have to agree with them, but we need to hear from them, critically evaluate them, and add them to that which we evaluate, discern, and either accept or reject.

We must also frequently turn off the flood of information so we can process, reflect, pray, and discern. Raw information doesn’t automatically become wisdom. When we don’t take time away from our screens and devices, we never let the Holy Spirit turn information into true wisdom for life. Prioritize wisdom over information and pursue wisdom every day.

“The greatest among you shall be your servant.” – Matthew 23:11

The Kingdom of God turns the traditional values and aspirations of the world upside down! Status, titles, and wealth aren’t celebrated – faithfulness is. God’s Kingdom doesn’t value or applaud the exercise of power, but the willingness to use power to serve. It doesn’t exalt the high and mighty but the low and faithful. Jesus modeled this by His own incarnation, life, and death on our behalf.

This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t step up to important roles of leadership when called. It means that when we lead it must be by serving. Let us never think that “we’ve arrived” so we can enjoy power and authority over others as they serve us. Rather, when we lead, we must be regularly thinking like Christ. How can we serve those we lead – whether in the workplace, the classroom, the family, or the church?

Christian leadership isn’t about being a Christian who’s in charge. It’s about leading like Christ. Though He was the Son of God, Christ became a man to save us and used His power to help and heal the hurting, sick, paralyzed, demon-possessed, outcast, and dead. He didn’t use His power to enrich Himself or make Himself comfortable. He used His power for the good of all and the glory of God.

The more responsibility God entrusts to us, the more we must seek to use it with a servant’s heart and a Kingdom mindset. Christ’s example and Spirit within us will help us do this. However, we must get over ourselves and commit to leading like Him.

“And Jesus said to them, ‘Whose likeness and inscription is this?’ They said, ‘Caesar’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’” – Matthew 22:20-21

While this is a fascinating lesson on paying taxes, there’s a much deeper question raised by Jesus’ teaching. What things are God’s? What are we supposed to give to Him?

The coin was due to Caesar because it carried Caesar’s image and inscription. What carries the image and inscription of God? We do! We are each uniquely made in God’s image and His inscription is written into our very DNA. What then are we to give God? Ourselves! What portion of ourselves? ALL of ourselves.

Probably the greatest issue that prevents Christians from growing and fully experiencing God’s pleasure is that we refuse to give ALL of ourselves. Too often we want to budget a certain portion of our time, energy, and resources to God as if He were one of several good and worthy causes.

That isn’t what He asks for and it isn’t what He rewards. He invites and commands us to give ALL of ourselves. To fully commit every aspect of our life to Him – work and leisure, church and family, mind and body, wealth and talents. He’s clear about the rewards of such faithfulness: the experience of His joy, the joy of following Jesus to the cross, increasing Christlikeness, and rewards in eternity.

What’s holding you back from fully committing ALL of yourself to God? Are you willing to try fully giving to God what belongs to Him for a season? You won’t regret it!

“And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” – Matthew 22:12-13

God is throwing an incredible party and everyone’s invited. However, you must dress appropriately!!! What do you need to wear to God’s party? What should you buy or what should you make? Nothing! There’s no outfit you can buy, make, earn, or improve to make yourself worthy to attend God’s party. God’s party is only for those who are perfect and none of us are!

However, God will freely provide everything you need to wear, if you’ll simply ask in faith. The only clothes that will get you into this party are clothes washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. We have each sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, making ourselves utterly unworthy to be at God’s party. However, Jesus, the Son of God, lived the life of sinless perfection we can’t and died on the cross as a sacrifice sufficient to pay the penalty for our sins. Through His death and resurrection, He offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who commit their life in faith to Him.

When you believe in Jesus, you are washed clean of all sin, shame, and guilt. It is Christ’s blood that covers your sin and His presence in everyone who believes in Him that makes you worthy to attend God’s party. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

“Toward the scorners he is scornful,
but to the humble he gives favor.”
– Proverbs 3:34

Humility is no more popular today than it was thousands of years ago. The Romans considered it weakness and it would seem that many today agree, both Christians and non-Christians alike. Humility has never been popular with political leaders and far too many religious leaders have been unfamiliar with it throughout the ages. And yet…

It’s the humble that God favors. It’s those aware of their own weaknesses, defects, limitations, and propensity for sin He blesses. It’s those aware that they need a Savior who find one in Jesus Christ. It’s those who realize they’re incapable of doing great things who open themselves for God to do great things through them by the power of His Spirit. It’s those who recognize their deep-seated temptations who finish the race in Spirit-filled purity.

For those Christians whose pride is easily wounded, who cannot stand to show weakness, or who rise quickly to their own defense, consider the Jesus we’re commanded to follow. Though He was the eternal Son of God, Jesus submitted to arrest, humiliation, abuse, injustice, torture, and brutal execution. The way of the cross is the way of humiliation. It was Christ’s humility in going to the cross that defeated Satan.

As followers of Jesus, it won’t be our pride or our strength that reaches those who don’t know Christ. It will be our Christ-like humility.