The Business of Wisdom

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Gentlemen, every day is the battle. A battle for your faith, your family, and your purpose. The men who stand strong don't prepare when the battle arrives, they prepare before it begins. Welcome to the Men's Morning Devotional. Let's get into God's word. It's time to man up.

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Good morning, gentlemen. I'm Chris Muinya, and it's time for another man up moment. This week I'm continuing through Proverbs chapter 8, and today's devotional being about the business of wisdom. I encourage you to share this devotional with someone who you think would benefit from it. Now, Proverbs chapter 8, verses 15 through 16 says this By me, kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just. By me princes govern and nobles, all who rule on earth. Leadership is everywhere. Now we may not have kings or princes governing societies anymore, but we do have business owners, CEOs, police chiefs, executives, all leading something, some entity, some family. Because the reality is if you're a husband, you're a leader. If you're a father, you're a leader. If people look to you for direction at work, you're a leader. The question isn't whether you're leading, the question is what is leading you. In this verse, wisdom is speaking. And wisdom says that even kings and rulers need her. The people who with the most authority in the world still need God's wisdom to lead. Now that's a powerful reminder for us as men. Position doesn't make you a good leader. Wisdom does. You can have authority and still make terrible decisions. You could be strong and still foolish. You can have confidence and still be completely wrong. Godly leadership isn't about getting people to do what you want. It's about having the wisdom and character to do what is right, even when it's difficult. Look at what the verse says about rulers. They issued just decrees. That word there, just, it matters. God isn't interested in men who use their authority to simply get their way. He wants men who use whatever influence they've been given to bring what is right, good, and honorable into the lives of others. Think about your home. Your wife and your children are watching how you handle pressure. They're watching how you respond when you're angry. They're watching how you treat people who can't do anything for you. They're watching whether your faith is real when life gets difficult. You may never sit on a throne, but my family is still learning from my leadership. And here's something every man needs to understand. And I'm with you in this. Leadership begins with submission. Before we can lead others well, we have to submit ourselves to God. A man who refuses God's authority will eventually misuse his own. But a man who puts himself under God's wisdom can become the kind of leader others can trust. That means before you make a major decision, you pray. Before you react in anger, you pause. Before you give advice, you seek God's truth. Before you demand respect, you examine your own character. Before you try to change everyone else, you allow God to change you. The world often defines leadership as power. God defines leadership as responsibility. And your influence is not primarily about what you can make people do, it's about what kind of example you become. Men, we don't need a title to lead. We need wisdom. And the more responsibility God gives you, the more desperately you need Him. So here's your man up challenge. Today, identify one person you influence. Maybe it's your wife, your children, your coworker, an employee, a friend, or someone you mentor. And ask yourself this. What kind of leader am I being to this person? Then do one thing today that demonstrates godly leadership. Maybe encourage instead of criticize. Listen instead of interrupt. Apologize instead of defend yourself. Serve instead of demand to be served. What kind of leader am I being to this person? Then do one thing today that demonstrates godly leadership. Encourage instead of criticize. Listen instead of interrupting. Apologize instead of defending yourself. Serve instead of demanding to be served. Or if a difficult decision needs to be made, pray about it before you act. Your challenge is simple. Lead one person today the way you believe Jesus would lead them. Don't just tell people what you do, show them what it looks like to follow God. So let's pray. Father, thank you for giving us wisdom to lead well. Help us understand that every position of influence is responsibility you've entrusted to us. Give us wisdom to make good decisions, humility to listen, courage to do what is right, and strength to lead with love. Help us become men who don't abuse authority, but use our influence to serve, protect, encourage, and build others up. Let our wives, our children, our coworkers, and friends to see something in us that points them towards you, and make us leaders who are first willing to follow you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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All right, gentlemen, you've heard God's word. Now go live it. Lead well, stand strong, honor God in everything you do. Share this devotional with another brother. Remember, every day is another opportunity to man up.