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I’m at Catalyst conference this week again. It has been a couple years since I have been here and I missed it. I didn’t decide until recently to attend, but was grateful at the opportunity to blog from here. The catalyst for this particular post may have been the reason I came.

I sat in on a session by Dr. Henry Cloud. He’s a popular (and one of my favorite) author of the book “Boundaries”. Recently he wrote the book “Boundaries for Leaders.” I may blog later about his talk, but one line he said prompted my thought process far beyond just what he said. I guess that’s what conferences are supposed to do…aren’t they?

He quoted James 1:5:

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.

The part that jumps out at me is the two words “without criticizing”. Powerful. Life altering. Needed.

Maybe this is just for me. Perhaps you need it too.

God wants to share His wisdom with us. Nothing new there. He does it in various way…through His Word…through others…through life experiences. Nothing new there.

But, He does it without criticizing.

He knows you don’t know. He knows you make mistakes. He knows you need help. He knows you mess up. He knows you need more wisdom…which is why He’s willing to share it in the first place. Duh! Of course! So, you aren’t disappointing Him when you don’t know how to do what He’s calling you to do!

Thinking you should have the answer…just because you’ve been doing this pastor/leader thing a while…is dumb! You don’t have all the answers. In fact, when you pretend you do you are evidencing the reality of this post and proving you are very misguided.

God shares wisdom…when we seek it…without criticizing us for needing wisdom.

What wisdom do you need today?

Seek it! Unashamedly!

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Ron Edmondson

Author Ron Edmondson

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Join the discussion 6 Comments

  • Dr. Henry Cloud did a great job on his talk. Definitely challenging.

    BTW, if you're there tomorrow, I would love to connect with you.

  • Sean Van Zant says:

    Like this post Ron! My uncle and I were just talking about this today. I think a great definition of wisdom is the right application of knowledge. Notice that wisdom is the RIGHT application of knowledge, meaning if you aren't applying it rightly then it's not the RIGHT application of the knowledge thereof.

    Right application comes from correct interpretation which comes from excellent exegesis.

  • Gene Ziesel says:

    Thanks again Ron for another great post! It is evident to me that you receive God's wisdom with out criticism!
    Continued blessings my brother.

  • Nice post, Ron. We all need spiritual guidance and enlightenment in a world with so little of this. Very good message here. Thanks.