Friday, September 25, 2009
Prayer for Wisdom
(Colossians 4:1-6)
Continuing the employer-employee theme of chapter 3, Paul admonishes employers to deal justly with their employees (4:1). My Christianity should be evident in my serving others and my leading others as well. A leader’s sense of balance and equity regarding his employees comes from understanding ultimate authority: Though I may lead others, I myself am under authority—the authority of my “Master in heaven.” Christians in leadership positions, then, are not ever “at the top.” Rather, they are middlemen—ministering to their employees as Christ ministers to them.
How can one maintain such perspective in a leadership role? Paul answers in verse 2—by continual prayer. Obviously, a leader should pray for daily wisdom. But he should also pray for God’s wisdom and blessing upon others. That’s really Paul’s burden in the passage. In fact he asks the Colossians to pray that he will have increased opportunities to present the Gospel (3). He also asks them to pray that he will know how he “ought to speak,” his manner and methods (4). In short, praying for wisdom for self (James 1:5) and praying for wisdom for others is incumbent of every Christian—especially leaders.
The prayer for wisdom results in a “walk” of wisdom—the ability to demonstrate the practical aspects of faith to a watching world (5). Our faith works! And it works better than any philosophy ever devised by the cunning of man. And—best of all—the very wisdom of God is available to leader and servant alike. All we need do is pray!
