A young man was about to make a career switch. After much prayers and contemplations, he decided to bounce the decision off his pastor. There was not much talk aside a very striking statement that the pastor made; “Would you rather be a big fish in a small ocean or a small fish in a big ocean.” That statement ended the conversation. The young man got the right wisdom to navigate his career. Truly, when wisdom speaks, learn to listen.
Friend, when wisdom speaks, you must learn to listen (Proverbs 8:1-4). One conversation with a wise man can yield more results than 40 days of fasting and prayers. Actually, one of the benefits of fasting and prayers is access to the right relationships and information. Some people think that God will just drop answers from heaven when they pray.
Most of your answers will come via divine leading to the right wisdom source (Acts 10:30-33). It took the wisdom of Moses’ father-in-law to unlock the next level of his leadership (Exodus 18:13-27). Think about it! Moses had been with God on the mountain, yet the wisdom he needed would come from his father-in-law. I believe that God strategically placed Jethro in Moses’ life to supply the counsel he would need for his next level.
Who has God placed in your life to supply the counsel that you need for your next level (Ecclesiastes 10:10)? Can you recognize such a person or people? Are you leveraging such relationships? Are you listening to the voice of wisdom when it speaks? A lot of times, we want to get everything directly from God when God has channelled what we need through the right relationships (Deuteronomy 34:9).
It is either pride or ignorance that makes people downplay on the voice of wisdom (Proverbs 11:2, Ecclesiastes 10:15). I have often taught people that the voice of wisdom is one of the valid ways that God leads His people. Sometimes, the wisdom you need would come via casual conversations. You would need to be sensitive to decode the mind of God for you in such conversations.
Like the young man in our opening story, are you at that juncture in your life where you need to make a destiny decision (Joel 3:14)? Don’t downplay on the voice of wisdom. It would save your career, marriage, ministry, business, etc., from potential struggles and losses. God will always position your teachers before you as you navigate your destiny (Isaiah 30:20-21). But would you recognize them and be humble enough to leverage their wisdom?
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria