Spiritual Foundations of LeadershipNäide

Wisdom To Lead

A valuable angle to understand wisdom is offered in the Bible. The Word of God presents wisdom as the ability to see life from God's perspective and to respond to the demands that it presents to us according to biblical principles. There are three Greek words in the New Testament of the Bible that are worth referring to in relation to wisdom:

• Wisdom = Sophia (Understanding of the theoretical truths of God).
• Intelligence, knowledge, or understanding = Sunesis (Critical capacity to be able to quickly evaluate a situation, to have sound judgment to decide the best).
• Prudence = Phronesis (How to properly apply knowledge).

It is one thing to know a lot of information from the Bible (e.g., about characters, events, teachings, etc.), another to have the intelligence to understand things quickly (Sunesis), and another to properly apply knowledge (Phronesis); yet something very different is wisdom (Sophia).

It comes from the Hebrew word Chokmah (equivalent to Sophia in Greek), and it refers to the capacity to perceive and understand the truths of the Bible. According to Dr. Arana, biblical wisdom, or God's wisdom, is not mere philosophical speculation (it is not just another philosophy); it is not mere human knowledge, discernment, and understanding. We refer to it rather as the ability to judge and act in accordance with God's direction and purposes. It is spiritual understanding, through revelation and guidance from God. It is important to notice that spiritual wisdom is given by the Holy Spirit to the believer and is limited to the unbelieving “sage.” Wisdom is about knowing God daily and acting accordingly.

Reflection:

• How do you ensure that your leadership decisions are guided by true wisdom (Sophia) rather than just knowledge (Sunesis) or practical experience (Phronesis)?
• What practices help you consistently seek God’s perspective before making decisions?