There are three things that man values greatly.

They have a high value in the world economic system.

Silver.         1kg    = About $960.
Gold.           1kg    = About $51,800.
Rubies.       1kg    = About $75,000,000. (Good size, clarity, quality).
(Prices as at February 2013).

Imagine what you could do with 1kg of rubies.

In 2008, a friend sent me a message that simply said, “Psalm 19:9-10”.

The verses read: “The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.  The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.  They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold.”  As a result, I began to search the Scriptures to establish the true value of God’s Word.

I discovered that wisdom is the most valuable thing on Earth.  Proverbs 3: 13-15.  “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.  She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.”

Proverbs 8:10-11.  “Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.”

For guys who have a wife, take note of Proverbs 31:10.  “A wife of noble character who can find?  She is worth far more than rubies.”  Now, if 1kg of rubies are worth $75,000,000, then a wife of noble character is worth…

Where can wisdom be found?  Job 28 – The whole chapter discusses where wisdom, understanding and knowledge can be found.  The conclusion in verse 28 says, “And he said to man, ‘The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding’.”

How can you get wisdom?  The “IF … THEN” rule applies; IF you do this, THEN you get that.  Proverbs 2:1-6.  “My son, IF you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and IF you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and IF you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, THEN you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.  For the Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

George Mueller recommended the careful and consecutive study of the Holy Scriptures.  He was in the habit of reading from both the Old Testament, and the New Testament, each day.  He would read the entire Bible several times each year.

There is great value in carefully and prayerfully reading through Scripture, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us into all Truth.  As we spend time studying and contemplating a particular passage of Scripture, we often encounter deeper levels of insight.  As an example, read Proverbs 5:1-6.  At first reading, the main and plain meaning is a warning against being seduced by the adulteress.  As you ponder the verses, and compare them with other verses found in Proverbs chapters 1-9, it becomes apparent that there is also a warning against being seduced by the world and its ways (selfish ambition, materialism, love of money).  Further reflection may suggest a warning against allowing the ways of the world into our church practices.  Even further, the verses are warning against being enticed by the attractions of sin itself.

Proverbs 4:7 says that, “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.  Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”

Leadership has an aura of mystery surrounding it.

Often, when people find themselves in a leadership position, they feel inadequate for the task – partly because they are not clear on what is required of them.

Leadership is not complex; it is taking people from where they are, to where they need to be.

Lead people away from:

Selfish ambition; bitter envy (the original sin – Isaiah 14:12-15).

Lead people toward being:

Pure.  (Single minded; you cannot serve God and money; friendship with the world is enmity with God).

Peace loving. (Reconcile people with God; reconcile people with people).

Considerate. (Unselfish).

Submissive.  (To God).

Full of mercy.  (Forgive).

Full of good fruit.  (Bearing fruit in keeping with repentance).

Impartial.  (Treat others without any motive of selfish gain).

Sincere.  (No guile).

How should a leader behave?

How should a leader encourage others to behave?

James 3:13-18 “Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving; considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”

What does a leader look like?

Isaiah 53:2b “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.”  This verse, talking about the Messiah who was yet to come, describes Jesus as unlike the typical leaders the world chooses or is drawn to.  He was not particularly good looking, he did not stand out of a crowd, he was not particularly charismatic.  But he was pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.