Essence before Expertise: Who Do You Know? (Part 1)

Scripture — Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NRSV)

Thus says the Lord: Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom; do not let the mighty boast in their might; do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth; but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the Lord; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord.

Devotion

Change is real. And all of us have some hesitancy towards change when circumstances rub us the wrong way or in the wrong area. Leaders have to embrace the fact that our language in leadership paints concepts that are not quite reality. We espouse words like foundation, pillars, and firm while facing the reality of humanity as a perpetual change agent, finite in essence, and limited in resources—all of which underscores the need for agility.

Technology steps into the conversation and offers leaders other solutions. Updated forms of AI (we have had AI for quite some time) force leaders to revisit the main questions we face daily. What does it mean to be human? What does love of neighbor look like in the office? What makes for good, authentic, and transcendent beauty? Where are we going? In a 2026 Forbes article, “3 Leadership Trends Shaping 2026 (And Why We Should Rethink Everything),”Adrian Gostick hints at these questions when he says:

Now, it’s not about who has access to AI but who uses it wisely. The real difference will be knowing when AI helps, when it brings risk, and when human judgment is still most important.

Gostick is right, but it is Forbes, so it is not surprising that he did not turn the corner to where wisdom can be objectively found—objective wisdom that is not tied to the right college or university; objective strength that is not tied to the right pedigree, last name, or part of town. Objective richness is not predicated on the depth of one’s investment portfolio, the ability to choose, or the vastness of one’s privacy. Leaders who get it understand the unending question, “Who is forming you?” And they remember that their conclusions should be appropriate to the fringe of society and to other situations as much as to their privileged situation.

Israel found its leadership pushed to the fringes. They were to be a light to the nations (Gen 12:1-3; Ex 9:1, 16; Psalm 67; 96; Isa 49:6; 60:3) But their vain absolutes led to a temporary eviction notice from the land. God did not remove their vocation, but in their frailty, God moved their occupation to that calling. Jeremiah came with the same calling: to remind them who they are and what will happen. They needed to be reminded that God is still forming them. Those who lead have to be reminded that we have not arrived; we are being formed. This is especially important in dire circumstances, whether seemingly random or self-inflicted, because we are descendants of the hauntings of the fall. We have become professional fig leaf sewers; we believe we know what to do.

Jeremiah reminded God’s people that whatever they know about a thing is not enough. And whatever they are boasting about (the Hebrew word has the sense of “shining”)—actively, passively, or subtly—says a lot about what they think they know. He reminded them that it is possible to have wisdom, strength, and riches or resources, but you were not made for shining on those things. If you are going to boast or shine in 2026, your attention should be on God and God’s character.

Shining on God does not come without his reflecting on you. (2 Cor. 3:18) He is too bright for it not to change you. Israel is headed to exile, and if they claim to know God, it is going to show up in their unending love, desire for equity, and communal faithfulness. God did not absolve them of leadership; they are learning to be agile. New situation, new intelligence needed; new issues of risk, same need for objective wisdom and judgment.  Same objective calling, God just moved their headquarters to a new office. They have to decide who they know.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Faith in God’s Provision (Jeremiah 8-16).