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The Business of Wisdom · Men's Morning Devotional

• 0:01
  SPEAKER_00: Gentlemen, every day is the battle.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: A battle for your faith, your family, and your purpose.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_00: The men who stand strong don't prepare when the battle arrives, they prepare before it begins.
• 0:14
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Men's Morning Devotional.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: Let's get into God's word.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: It's time to man up.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_01: Good morning, gentlemen.
• 0:28
  SPEAKER_01: I'm Chris Muinya, and it's time for another man up moment.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_01: This week I'm continuing through Proverbs chapter 8, and today's devotional being about the business of wisdom.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_01: I encourage you to share this devotional with someone who you think would benefit from it.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_01: Now, Proverbs chapter 8, verses 15 through 16 says this By me, kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_01: By me princes govern and nobles, all who rule on earth.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_01: Leadership is everywhere.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_01: Now we may not have kings or princes governing societies anymore, but we do have business owners, CEOs, police chiefs, executives, all leading something, some entity, some family.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_01: Because the reality is if you're a husband, you're a leader.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_01: If you're a father, you're a leader.
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_01: If people look to you for direction at work, you're a leader.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_01: The question isn't whether you're leading, the question is what is leading you.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_01: In this verse, wisdom is speaking.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_01: And wisdom says that even kings and rulers need her.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_01: The people who with the most authority in the world still need God's wisdom to lead.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_01: Now that's a powerful reminder for us as men.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_01: Position doesn't make you a good leader.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_01: Wisdom does.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_01: You can have authority and still make terrible decisions.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_01: You could be strong and still foolish.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_01: You can have confidence and still be completely wrong.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_01: Godly leadership isn't about getting people to do what you want.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_01: It's about having the wisdom and character to do what is right, even when it's difficult.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_01: Look at what the verse says about rulers.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_01: They issued just decrees.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_01: That word there, just, it matters.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_01: God isn't interested in men who use their authority to simply get their way.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_01: He wants men who use whatever influence they've been given to bring what is right, good, and honorable into the lives of others.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_01: Think about your home.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_01: Your wife and your children are watching how you handle pressure.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_01: They're watching how you respond when you're angry.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_01: They're watching how you treat people who can't do anything for you.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_01: They're watching whether your faith is real when life gets difficult.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_01: You may never sit on a throne, but my family is still learning from my leadership.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_01: And here's something every man needs to understand.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm with you in this.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_01: Leadership begins with submission.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_01: Before we can lead others well, we have to submit ourselves to God.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_01: A man who refuses God's authority will eventually misuse his own.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_01: But a man who puts himself under God's wisdom can become the kind of leader others can trust.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_01: That means before you make a major decision, you pray.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_01: Before you react in anger, you pause.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_01: Before you give advice, you seek God's truth.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_01: Before you demand respect, you examine your own character.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_01: Before you try to change everyone else, you allow God to change you.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_01: The world often defines leadership as power.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_01: God defines leadership as responsibility.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_01: And your influence is not primarily about what you can make people do, it's about what kind of example you become.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_01: Men, we don't need a title to lead.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_01: We need wisdom.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_01: And the more responsibility God gives you, the more desperately you need Him.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_01: So here's your man up challenge.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_01: Today, identify one person you influence.
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe it's your wife, your children, your coworker, an employee, a friend, or someone you mentor.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_01: And ask yourself this.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_01: What kind of leader am I being to this person?
• 3:57
  SPEAKER_01: Then do one thing today that demonstrates godly leadership.
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe encourage instead of criticize.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_01: Listen instead of interrupt.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_01: Apologize instead of defend yourself.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_01: Serve instead of demand to be served.
• 4:11
  SPEAKER_01: What kind of leader am I being to this person?
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_01: Then do one thing today that demonstrates godly leadership.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_01: Encourage instead of criticize.
• 4:20
  SPEAKER_01: Listen instead of interrupting.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_01: Apologize instead of defending yourself.
• 4:25
  SPEAKER_01: Serve instead of demanding to be served.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_01: Or if a difficult decision needs to be made, pray about it before you act.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_01: Your challenge is simple.
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_01: Lead one person today the way you believe Jesus would lead them.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_01: Don't just tell people what you do, show them what it looks like to follow God.
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_01: So let's pray.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_01: Father, thank you for giving us wisdom to lead well.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_01: Help us understand that every position of influence is responsibility you've entrusted to us.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_01: Give us wisdom to make good decisions, humility to listen, courage to do what is right, and strength to lead with love.
• 4:58
  SPEAKER_01: Help us become men who don't abuse authority, but use our influence to serve, protect, encourage, and build others up.
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_01: Let our wives, our children, our coworkers, and friends to see something in us that points them towards you, and make us leaders who are first willing to follow you.
• 5:14
  SPEAKER_01: In Jesus' name I pray.
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_01: Amen.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_00: All right, gentlemen, you've heard God's word.
• 5:21
  SPEAKER_00: Now go live it.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_00: Lead well, stand strong, honor God in everything you do.
• 5:28
  SPEAKER_00: Share this devotional with another brother.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_00: Remember, every day is another opportunity to man up.