Northwest Arkansas September Luncheon

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." James 3:13-18

Wisdom is one of those things that we all know we need more of, no matter our stage of life. And while it’s mostly gained through time, experience, and – truthfully – age, Scripture tells us that there is also another way to grow in wisdom.

James 1:5 instructs us to simply ask God for wisdom whenever we lack – promising that He will give it to us generously! Almost as if He wants us to have all we need to live and move and work with wisdom. Moreover, the whole book of Proverbs is devoted to singing the praises and teaching the ways of wisdom, emphasizing the importance of seeking it, especially by listening to those who have gone before us.

When it comes to work, it’s often intellect and learned skills that land us the job. But once we have it, it’s often wisdom that allows us to keep and advance it. Wisdom teaches us how to approach sticky situations. Wisdom tells us when to speak up and when to keep quiet. Wisdom helps us know when to leave and when to stay. And it’s wisdom that serves as the rudder while we navigate all the parts of work that involve more than just the technical skills of completing a task.

Ultimately, and maybe most importantly, wisdom is what allows us to have a meaningful impact.

As Christians, we have been given the insight to know that a wise woman listens to the advice of others, seeks wisdom from the Lord, and makes the most of every opportunity – because she knows that time is precious and limited. That’s why this month at Polished, we’re focusing on leading wisely. We’ll look at what the Bible says about wisdom and lean into the stories and experiences of women who have wisdom to share. And together, we’ll see how leading wisely may be one of the most valuable offerings we can give to ourselves and others when it comes to our work.