Faith and Family Business: Wisdom On the Line

In this reflection on Biblical wisdom, I explore with you the two meanings of the English idiom "to be on the line."  If someone is "on the line," they are (or they used to be before wireless phones!) speaking on the telephone.  On the other hand, if something is "on the line," it is at risk of loss.  "He put his life on the line to save the crew." 

As we look at wisdom in the Book of Proverbs, we see that it is "on the line" in both senses.  First wisdom is "on the line" in that it is talking to us.  Constantly.  Wisdom "cries out in the street" (1:20), and it calls in the home (2:1; 3:1; 4:1).  These two contexts are significant because they teach us that in both our "street (i.e., secular) lives" as well as in the more "study" or "intimate" lives, wisdom calls out to us.  Do you have a way to recognize its call for yourself and your family business?

But when wisdom places itself out there for us, it is something that is at risk of being overlooked or lost.  If there is any reality defining our lives in 2015 is that we have too many voices that are speaking to us, too many claims on our lives.  Wisdom is at risk of being lost by us.

Next time you think of your family business and your private life, think of the two ways that wisdome is on the line.  It calls, and it may be lost.  Resolve to hear it.