I choose to grow personally, professionally, and spiritually. My intentional choice to grow, over time, improves who I am and increases what I’m capable of accomplishing. Ultimately, my desire for growth is life giving!
The Precept Explained:
When I find wisdom I find life itself. Additionally, by wisdom I receive goodwill from God Himself! Proverbs 8.35 paraphrase
The Precept Applied:
Using a contrast is an effective way to drive home a point.
For example, I can provide a list of wonderful benefits for making a certain choice.
Then, I can offer a longer list of problems for not making that choice!
Given those two different options, what rational person would say no?
How Wisdom Reasons
Similarly, at the very end of Proverbs 8, wisdom uses a contrast to reason with us. That rationale comes after a lengthy conversation that goes as follows:
1). Publicly, wisdom calls me to listen and to change (Proverbs 8.1-4). Thus, the universal precepts aren’t hidden or mysterious.
2). Then, wisdom offers discernment as a cure for shallow-mindedness and hardheadedness (Proverbs 8.5). So, who wants to remain shallow and stubborn?
3). Discernment, in turn, reveals to me the truth of the precepts (Proverbs 8.6-9).
4). As I grow, I consider what’s really most valuable – the universal precepts (Proverbs 8.10-11).
5). Next, one outcome of personal growth is a change in the way I think (Proverbs 8.12). Most specifically, I become subtle and discerning. Those traits, in turn, impact my ability to focus, thus improve my capacity to produce.
6). Over time, that personal growth impacts my leadership because it leads me to set aside arrogance and replace it with sound counsel (Proverbs 8.13-16).
7). In return for being teachable and for absorbing the precepts, I’m better able to use good judgment to form sound decisions (Proverbs 8.17-21).
8). Additionally, I’ll benefit from an increase in my creativity because I’ve absorbed the precepts (Proverbs 8.22-31).
9). Finally, when I find wisdom, as revealed in the precepts, I find life itself (Proverbs 8.32-36).
In short, we’re encouraged to grow.
My desire for growth is life giving because it directly impacts my ability to function as a leader!
Finding Life
The Hebrew word for “life” that’s used in Proverbs 8.35 is used at least 100 other times in scripture, besides the 30 uses in Proverbs.
The first time it’s used is Genesis 2.7 in the phrase “breath of life.” Thus, most essentially, it means our physical life.
However, the outcome of receiving the breath of life, also from Genesis 2.7, is that man became a “living soul.” Thus, I have both a physical life and an eternal being, a soul.
Moreover, the connection between life and soul is apparent elsewhere. For example, see Deuteronomy 4.9. There, we’re warned to protect both our spiritual nature and our character, “all of the days of your life.”
These final verses in Proverbs Chapter 8 pick up on this connection between our physical life (8.35) and our eternal soul (8.36). Actually, Proverbs 8.36 teaches that when I ignore the precepts I “wrong my own soul.”
Finding Life in Proverbs
Additionally, other verses in Proverbs link a teachable spirit and finding life. First, see Proverbs 4.13.
Second, the teaching of the precepts will transform the character of the learner. In addition, that teaching is life giving, according to Proverbs 4.20-22.
Third, in Proverbs 4.23, I’m strongly encouraged to guard my character – above all else – because it’s the essence of life.
Wherefore, my desire for growth is life giving.
Leadership Insights
Proverbs 1.7
I trust you agree that it’s good for a leader to get rid of shallowness, stubbornness, and arrogance.
Why? Because those negative traits are so destructive, both to the leader and to the organization.
Regarding arrogance, near the end of each of Mark Crowley’s podcasts, he has a “heartbeat round.” Guests are asked to answer a series of questions in a heartbeat. Thus, they answer with the first thing that comes to mind.
Invariably, when asked what trait most often derails leaders, the answer, from guest after guest, is arrogance.
Elements of Growth
In contrast to arrogance, a precept-driven life seeks out and accepts wise counsel. A growth-oriented leader combines that impartial advice with discernment and a very clear set of personal values.
As a result, those precepts transform the leader’s thinking, decision processes, and creativity.
However, there are two underlying assumptions.
First, the leader has a desire to grow personally and professionally. Second, the leader is willing to be taught as exhibited by being a listener and a learner.
If “nobody can’t tell you nothing” you’re going nowhere as a leader!
I suggest that precept-driven creativity, as revealed in the Proverbs, is a source of significant influence for a leader.
Moreover, the leader’s desire for personal and professional growth is life giving. It’s life giving both to the leader and to the organization in terms of sustainable performance.
Personal Insight
Growth in a leader produces dramatic change in the organization.
But, what does zero growth look like in a manager?
I once worked with a department chair who had stopped growing professionally years prior. Unfortunately, turnover and short stays among his immediately supervisors allowed the situation to go unchecked for years.
The ongoing conflict between the department head and his supervisors was apparent to everyone in the business unit.
One bad habit of this chair, among others, was to get angry then come into my office and pound his fist on my desk while yelling.
Another bad habit was sneering at others who confronted his views. You get the picture, right?
As a result, that lack of professional growth combined with arrogance to create an unhealthy environment in his department. The outcome was pettiness and a confrontational attitude among other senior members of that department.
The entire five-department business unit suffered because of the poor leadership in this one department.
One supervisor did try to force out the department head. However, there were other organizational dynamics that forced out the supervisor before the department head could be replaced.
So, what does zero growth in a manager look like? Well, it’s a constant source of discomfort for superiors and peers alike.
The Solution
Fortunately, during a short-term assignment as a result of the turnover, the interim supervisor had an opportunity to accept the resignation of the department chair.
The chair had resigned before but was always persuaded to continue given the instability elsewhere in the organization.
This time the supervisor jumped at the chance for a change in department leadership. After a long and difficult process, the department stabilized under new leadership.
A desire for personal growth is life giving. Conversely, a refusal to grow that’s marked by arrogance and aggressiveness, can snuff out the life of a business unit.
Plug This In Today!
The reason the 3,000-year old insights of Proverbs are valuable today is because they’re founded on precepts that are universal and unchanging.
A just character, deep discernment, and increased professional capacity are some of the outcomes of intentional personal growth.
Conversely, not growing personally and professionally is also an option. The outcome of zero-growth is deadly to the organization. Also, it’s not good for your career!
Along with personal and professional growth, this teaching in Proverbs emphasizes my eternal spiritual nature as essential to life.
Therefore, my desire for growth is life giving.
The Source of This Precept
Proverbs 8.32-36
8.32-36 And now, sons, listen to me; those who keep my ways are happy. Listen to instruction and be wise; don’t ignore it. Anyone who listens to me is happy, watching at my doors every day, waiting by the posts of my doorway. For the one who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, but the one who misses me harms himself; all who hate me love death. Christian Standard Bible
Thanks for visiting. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me: larrydaleyoung@gmail.com
