ODJ: Value Wise Counsel

October 12, 2017 

READ: 1 Kings 10:1-13 

How happy your people must be! What a privilege for your officials to stand here day after day, listening to your wisdom! (v.8).

I’ve been mentored by some wonderful leaders over the years. Their encouragement, challenges, criticism and timely discipline have enabled me to grow and mature. From godly parents and inspirational teachers to leaders in church and the workplace, I’m immensely grateful for their wise counsel. It can be easy to criticise those in authority, but a wise friend once challenged me to prioritise learning from and valuing them.

If you could spend a day with a wise person, who would it be and what would you ask? King Solomon’s famous wisdom not only brought honour to God, it also allowed him to influence every nation on earth as kings sent their ambassadors to learn from him (1 Kings 4:29-33). When news of Solomon’s depth of understanding and abundant wealth reached the Queen of Sheba, she travelled a long distance to meet him and see if his wisdom was all she’d heard it was (10:1).

Her journey wasn’t in vain. She spoke with Solomon about many things, and he answered all her questions. Nothing was too difficult for him to explain to her. Overwhelmed (vv.2-5), she gushed, “Everything I heard in my country about your achievements and wisdom is true! . . . How happy your people must be! What a privilege for your officials to stand here day after day, listening to your wisdom!” (vv.6-8).

What a blessing it is to have access to wise counsel! Just as the Queen of Sheba recognised the value of learning from the wise, may we never take those who challenge and inspire us for granted. God can use wise leaders to help us become who He created us to be. And if you’re in a position of authority but feel that you lack wisdom, then ask God, and He’ll provide what you need (James 1:5).

—Ruth O’Reilly-Smith

365-day-plan: Acts 4:23-37

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Read Proverbs 18:15 and consider what it says about being ready to learn. 
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Do you have wise and godly counsel in your life? If not, ask God to show you who you can learn from. How are you able to use what you’ve learned to challenge and inspire others?