Some of us have a gift for planning. We take a big project, break it down into manageable pieces, and assign individuals to the various tasks. Regardless of one’s level of expertise with planning, if you have a project before you to accomplish, I believe it is essential to go to the Word of God for wisdom.
Are you tasked with building something from the ground up? Are you leading the way for a new business or new ministry? The writer of Proverbs 9 states, “Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars” (Prov. 9:1). He goes on to describe the seven features that enable the house to stand.1 For the purpose of application we will describe the seven as steps for building your project. Step One: prepared meat and mixed wine; Step Two: set table; Step Three: maids sent out; Step Four: a call from the highest point of the city; Step Five: identify a problem; Step Six: give a solution; Step Seven: a promise to satisfy (See Proverbs 9:2-6).
STEP ONE
In the same way Wisdom prepared meat and wine, you and I must prepare the substance of what we eventually will be promoting. Our content must be ready and in a state that will deliver on the promise found in Step 7. Oftentimes there’s a need to prepare “the meat” to the preferences of the targeted audience, so research through polling is required to cater well to those for whom you have a solution.
STEP TWO
Setting a table illustrates organization of the mission. Putting everything in place for “the meal” includes a timeline of development and completion date, as well as a plan and schedule for related events and future developments.
STEP THREE
Sending out maids equates to having co-horts who will help you hold a victory stance. A stool stands on three legs, and, in the same way, your project was not intended for a lone leader. Pray and ask for those who will intimately share the vision with you. When you have their promised partnership, practice regularly the art of delegation. Just like Wisdom sent our her maids to begin the promoting work, entrust your partners to accomplish the facets of the vision in which they excel.
STEP FOUR
Wisdom promoted her offer “from the highest point of the city” (See Prov. 9:3). You and I also want to seek out our best advantage point for promotion. Again, we must know our solicited audience before we know how and where to greet them with our offer. If you or your partners are not gifted in marketing, seek out counsel from someone who is. You want to do whatever is necessary to ensure your offer reaches those who need it.
STEP FIVE
In the case of Wisdom’s offer to learn to walk in understanding, she sought out those who lack judgment and grabbed their attention. “Let all who are simple come in here!” (Prov. 9:4). We do likewise with our offer: tap into a known problem and emphasize that we are a source for fixing it. In the business world, this offer is known as the thirty-second elevator speech. It’s your pitch. If a hearer has a small window of time to listen to your offer, then make it simple, concise and appealing to her sense of need.
STEP SIX
“Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed” (Prov. 9:5). At this stage of development, we pinpoint the irresistible way we will draw in many takers to our solution. What makes your offer distinct from another’s offer addressing the same need? This is a question for each leader to seek out from the heavenly Father. Although there already may be solutions available to the identified problem, you need to know and promote the special niche your solution addresses.
STEP SEVEN
There’s a promised benefit your offer brings to the known problem. “Leave your simple ways and you will live…” (Proverbs 9:6). Your promised reward should be tested and proven, so research the needed data or conduct testing yourself. Your business or ministry’s reputation as one having integrity hangs on this step.
1 Information from Dr. Cheatham’s article, “The Seven Pillars of Leadership Wisdom,” inspired my content.
Chatham, Dan. “The Seven Pillars of Leadership Wisdom,” Devotional. http://www.devotional.net. Accessed July 15, 2017.
Article Written By: Renee Beamer
