By Olubunmi Adebayo
*The bright and brilliant must be careful not to get himself entangled in political confrontations. Such confrontations normally serve as opportunities for them to be attacked and decimated under the pretext of two or more struggling and challenging one another :*
*Daniel 6:[1] It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;*
*[2]And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.*
*[3]Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.”*
*[4]Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.*
*The haters of Daniel used the opportunity above to set him up for the lion’s den on the account of the decree that no one should make any prayer to any God or anyone else except to the king in a space of 30 days.*
*All the orchestrations and maneuverings by the other princes and presidents were put together to target Daniel for destruction on the account of his brightness and brilliance due to God’s excellence spirit found in him.*
*Thank God for Daniel who did not join them in the political confrontations and orchestrations. And that was why God saved him in the den of the lion.*
*3) THE PLACE OF MENTORSHIP :*
*Most bright and brilliant people are near ready for glory and greatness in life. But they often nurse in their head the idea of not needing a more matured and exposed person around them to guide them forward. Yet, nothing can replace the place and role of an older voice saying “slow down” or “this isn’t your battle”.*
*If you see a young man or woman around you doing very well for his age, there is a voice of a mentor behind the scene guiding and tutoring him or her on the way of going forward :*
*2 Kings 6:[20]And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.*
*[21]And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?*
*[22]And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.*
*[23]And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.*
*The voice of a mentor, who knew better was critical in the story above.*
*David was doing fairly well with prophet Nathan around him to guide and mentor him, but as soon as Nathan died, he lacked a mentor’s voice to guide him, and his leadership suffered greatly.*
*Most bright and brilliant people of today will see their mentors as “old school”, yet what an older person will while seated, a young man cannot see while he is on top of a tall tree looking ahead.*
*4) LACK OF CONFLICT SKILLS :*
*Most bright and brilliant people, because of their gifting and knowledge, often speak too bluntly, and sometimes recklessly. Training in diplomacy, and the importance of timing in speaking can go a long way to help them. Diplomacy and timing helped Paul navigate several hot and dangerous spots in the course of his ministering activities :*
*Acts 23: [6]But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.*
*[7]And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.*
*[8]For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.*
*It is not out of place to teach a bright and brilliant person appropriate conflict skills, especially if the fellow is lacking this survival skill :*
*1 Kings 3:[5] In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.*
*[7]And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.*
*Solomon knew his own weakness, and he asked for the required skill helpful to him.*
*To be concluded tomorrow, God willing.*
Top of the day to you 👍.
©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
