Wisdom at Work

Have you ever looked at someone who excels in their field and wondered, "How do they do it?"

They seem prepared for every opportunity. Their work carries weight. Their gifts have opened doors and placed them in rooms they may have once only imagined entering.

Proverbs 22:29 tells us that those who are skilled in their work will serve before kings. Proverbs 18:16 similarly reminds us that a person's gift can make room for them and bring them before great people.

There is wisdom in working diligently, but excellence requires more than simply working harder. It requires learning how to steward what God has already placed within you.

Think about this. Every experience has taught you something. Every assignment has developed something. Even seasons that seemed unrelated to where you are going may have given you skills, wisdom, or perspective God intends to use later.

In the workplace, we sometimes call these transferable skills—abilities developed in one environment that remain valuable in another. But as believers, we also recognize that not everything we carry was developed through professional experience.

Some things were given by God.

Joseph's ability to interpret dreams eventually brought him before Pharaoh and positioned him to help lead Egypt through famine. Bezalel was filled with the Spirit of God, giving him wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and skill to create what was needed for the Tabernacle.

Their gifts were different, but both demonstrate what can happen when God-given ability is joined with wisdom, diligence, and purpose.

Colossians 3:23–24 reminds us to work wholeheartedly as unto the Lord rather than for people. What would change if God's evaluation mattered more than your supervisor's, your pastor's, or anyone else's?

Perhaps you would approach the ordinary assignment with greater care. Develop the skill you've neglected. Stop minimizing the gift God gave you. Or recognize that excellence isn't about recognition at all—it is about stewardship.

God is faithful to open the right doors and place us before the right people at the appointed time. Our responsibility is to faithfully develop and steward what He has placed in our hands.

Work with wisdom. Serve with excellence. Steward your gifts well.

And when the door opens, remember Who your work was for all along.