Daily Devotionals

'Every Day Light' with Selwyn Hughes

Devotional: August 29th

For Reading and Meditation:
     Ecclesiastes 8:1

A centuries-old saying goes: "Wise men are rarely academics, and academics are rarely wise men." Whether that is true I do not know, but I do know from reading Solomon's writings that wisdom is not something academic; it is designed to have a practical outworking in our lives. Many commentators believe that Solomon is giving us a self-portrait here, and is using himself as an illustration of how wisdom works in the lives of those who have a position of authority over others. In the text before us, two things are said about a wise man in authority: first, he has an understanding of the big picture, and second, he has a cheerful disposition. First - seeing the big picture. Those who are not leaders concentrate on how to bring their skills to bear on the task in front of them - the "how"; those who are leaders, however, concentrate on the wider perspective - the "why." That is why, as someone put it: "the person who knows how will usually have a job but that person will usually work for the one who knows why." The follower needs to know how; the leader needs to know why. Second - a cheerful disposition. Nothing is more contagious than cheerfulness. Leaders are more often than not scared people - scared they might not lead well. Thus their faces become stern, hard, unsmiling, and intense. Wisdom, the kind that comes from God, that is, lights up the face. Thus the face more often than not radiates cheerfulness. A face that is always stern is not a face that reflects wisdom.

Father, whether I am a leader or not, give me a face that reflects Your wisdom. I know I am not responsible for the face I started life with, but I am responsible for the face I finish up with. May my face reflect Your face. In Jesus' Name. Amen.