I had a friend deathly afraid of flying. My attempt at encouragement was saying that flying is far safer than driving, to which he replied “Sure, but if my car stalls I don’t plummet 20,000 feet!” Wisdom may advise me that I should simply keep all my transportation wheels firmly on the ground, but often it’s masking fear. People are afraid of many things. Sometimes the fear is legitimate; other times we hide our fear by calling it wisdom.
The Bible is filled with people disguising fear with what appears to be wisdom and acting in ways that are counter to what God desires. Proverbs 1:7 reminds us that the fear of the Lord (giving due honor and respect) is where wisdom begins. True wisdom and discernment can be gifted from God (Psalm 119:125) if we give God the opportunity to give it.
In a meeting with a pastor last year, I asked what they would love to see happen in their community if the money was there. Amidst a mission-driven response about meeting community needs, I heard “but, the church leaders aren’t ready to take that risk because…” followed by words of wisdom masking fear. I prayed for the pastor, and that courage would become the filter through which wisdom is run.
When making stewardship decisions, yes, seek wisdom. Then allow that wisdom to be informed by the vision to which God has called your church. That way, what is accomplished will be seen as an act of a courageous community in obedience to a God who overflows with abundance and who holds the deepest part of the earth in his hands (Psalm 95:4).
The Bible is filled with people disguising fear with what appears to be wisdom and acting in ways that are counter to what God desires. Proverbs 1:7 reminds us that the fear of the Lord (giving due honor and respect) is where wisdom begins. True wisdom and discernment can be gifted from God (Psalm 119:125) if we give God the opportunity to give it.
In a meeting with a pastor last year, I asked what they would love to see happen in their community if the money was there. Amidst a mission-driven response about meeting community needs, I heard “but, the church leaders aren’t ready to take that risk because…” followed by words of wisdom masking fear. I prayed for the pastor, and that courage would become the filter through which wisdom is run.
When making stewardship decisions, yes, seek wisdom. Then allow that wisdom to be informed by the vision to which God has called your church. That way, what is accomplished will be seen as an act of a courageous community in obedience to a God who overflows with abundance and who holds the deepest part of the earth in his hands (Psalm 95:4).