I was reading through some of my “drafts” that I wrote for the blog and realized I never posted this. I read back through it and thought this was still relevant today  – so why not post it!

In Haiti there is a saying we often hear – “After God – there is only you”. It’s an overwhelming feeling to know that after they ask their Father in Heaven, we’re that next step for so many people. What happens when there is only one spot left in the orphanage for the baby whose mother died during childbirth? What happens when we know that once they leave those gates that baby is going to die?  What happens when they asked God, then come to us and we can’t help them? Daily we find ourselves in the position of making life and death choices. After God, the Haitians place their hope in us.

You know what that is like. You may not have a group of Haitians waiting at your door but if you are a mother or father  – you have children who are dependent upon you. If you are a son or daughter you may have found yourself in the position of being a life-giver to your own parent. In today’s economy, as an employer you are more than just a boss, you take on the role of encourager and life-giver to employees who are desperate to stay afloat. Missionary decisions are made every day on American soil as well as Haitian. The burden of being next in line after God to make a decision is draining. If only we all had the ability to be as wise as Solomon. I like how The Message interprets Proverbs 2:1-5:

1-5 Good friend, take to heart what I’m telling you; collect my counsels and guard them with your life.
Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom;
set your heart on a life of Understanding.
That’s right—if you make Insight your priority,
and won’t take no for an answer,
Searching for it like a prospector panning for gold,
like an adventurer on a treasure hunt,
Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;
you’ll have come upon the Knowledge of God.

I read that and I think, that is me trying to discern my way through a crazy Monday. Like Indiana Jones, I am on a treasure hunt to tap into the right decisions and counsel. The interesting thing to note is that Solomon who has always been given the distinction of being wise still understood the necessity of wise counsel and the need to pursue the right wisdom. Apparently, I have been under the delusion all these years that Solomon just had what it takes to make snap judgments. As if his entire life played out with few surprises and cause for prayer and pondering.

I am completely relieved to know that if the wisest man in history didn’t have it together – I don’t have to have all the answers either. Solomon the great life-giver himself still struggled. Wow!

When did you last pray for wisdom? No really. When did you last pray passionately for it? Study may make a scholar, but only prayer will make a saint. Much reading may increase your learning, but only the revelation of the Holy Spirit can give you wisdom. If you crave wisdom; crack your knees on the ground and beg to the God of Solomon.

After God – there is only you. But you are a conduit not a stopped-up drain! Let the wisdom of Christ flow through you as you make your decisions. Don’t be a lone ranger! Bring in the Calgary cavalry and become a life-giver without regret or error! Enough said! Pray for it. Receive it!