October 15

Oct 15 - Today from Proverbs 15 we look at verse 22
"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed."

Would you like a jewel to place in the treasures of your memory bank? Something of true value and incredibly useful? Well, here it is: "I do not have all of the information I need."
Any time we seek to devise a plan, we need to remind ourselves of that. The bigger the plan, the greater the truth. Good and successful plans call for careful processing. A very important part of that process is to gather as much correct information about the object of the plan as possible. The best way to do that is to incorporate advisors who would tend to have information and experience in the field of the objective. I must confess, I am no big fan of committees. My years of experience serving on and with committees has soured me on them. . . with one exception. I am a very big fan of ad hoc committees. This is a committee specially selected to process only the specific situation at hand. Because of the nature of such a committee, members are usually selected for their experience and knowledge of the situation. The goal of the committee has closure. Their task is to process a workable solution - a plan. Once the plan is devised and implemented, their task is complete and they are disbanded. The success rate of carefully chosen ad hoc committees is very high.
If we are to grow in wisdom, we need to carry the principle of the ad hoc team into every area of planning possible. When looking to purchase a house or some other major investment, we assemble an ad hoc team of realtors, bankers, financial experts, etc. We depend on their knowledge and experience to keep us out of trouble as we make the transaction. Why would we do any less when making plans for the kingdom of God? We are called to serve in excellence. There are folks in the body of Christ who excel in specific areas. Place them on ad hoc teams specifically geared to a task where their experience and ability will count. Give the team a target and let them process the plan. When the target is achieved, their task is complete. They are relieved until the next situation arises where their unique gifts and experience are needed.
Good leaders learn how to discern and utilize the gifts and abilities of those around them. They know how to choose good teams for addressing specific issues. A good leader doesn't have all of the information, and he or she knows it. But, they seek to know who does have the information, and they know how to pool that information through team building. It's not shameful not to have all of the information. It's shameful to have failed because we failed to utilize those who do have the information. It called processing through teamwork.