Spiritual smarts

"Just getting straight-A's doesn't mean you'll be successful."

Some people are book-smart. Others, people-smart. Others can be administratively gifted, good with finances, or have an eye for design.

Joseph in the Bible is an interesting character. Here's part of his story. The country's ruler had asked him to interpret two troubling dreams:

"It is beyond my power to do this," Joseph replied. "But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease." [He asked God for help, and proceeded to interpret.]

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours."

Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt." (Genesis 41:16, 39–41 NLT)

People "under the influence" of the Holy Spirit have spiritual smarts. They understand God's ways. It may be easy to mistake such godly wisdom for intelligence.

However, when knowledge and wisdom are combined as in Joseph's case, the person becomes a valued part of a team, provided the leader is not threatened by someone bigger and better than themselves. Pharaoh proved his own leadership skills by elevating a younger man to greatness. Thereafter, he could relax and leave the administration in capable hands.

Smart Joseph. True. But smart Pharaoh, too!