26/08/2026
DO WE REALLY HAVE A WISE RULER?
A few days ago, I sat down with an elderly man of God.
We were talking about our country. About the hardship. About the future.
Then he said something that caught me off guard:
“I pray the opposition wins the next election. The problem is that the incumbent is just too wise.”
I paused.
Then I asked him gently: “Daddy, is he really wise?”
Because if he’s wise…
Why is life harder after 3 and a half years?
Why is there less peace, less food, less hope?
Why does it feel like we are going backwards?
The truth is, the leaders didn’t get to power by truth.
They got there by manipulation. By rigging. By cunning.
And since then, things have only gotten worse.
That conversation made me realize something:
Many of us don’t know the difference between wisdom and craftiness.
We see a man who can "play politics" and we call it wisdom.
We see a man who can lie, deceive, and escape it, and we call it strategy.
But is it?
LET’S SETTLE THIS: IS CRAFTINESS WISDOM?
No.
The Bible makes it very clear.
Being trickish is not wisdom. It’s cunning.
Cunning is using lies and half-truths to get your way.
Cunning is the spirit of the serpent in Genesis 3:1 “more crafty than any other beast.”
What does God says about it:
Proverbs 12:22 “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord.”
Ephesians 4:14 “...craftiness in deceitful schemes.”
Here’s the simple formula:
Wisdom = Strategy + Integrity
Trickish = Strategy - Integrity
One builds. The other destroys.
WHAT THEN IS TRUE WISDOM?
James 3:17 tells us:
“The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”
Wisdom doesn’t shout.
Wisdom doesn’t cheat.
Wisdom builds people up, even when it’s hard to tell the truth.
TWO TYPES OF RULERS: THE DIFFERENCE
A RULER PEOPLE THINK IS WISE
This is the crafty ruler. He looks smart on TV or from a far but when you look closer he is;
1. Manipulative - Wins by rigging and lies Proverbs 12:22
2. Violent - Uses fear instead of justice Proverbs 29:2
3. Selfish - Rules for himself, not the people. Ezekiel 34:2
4. Corrupt - Loves shortcuts and bribes Exodus. 18:21
5. Divisive - Leaves a nation in groaning and distrust. Proverbs 28:16
6. Temporary - May rise fast, but the foundation is sand. - Psalm 73:18-19
A TRULY WISE RULER
This is God’s kind of leader:
1. Godly - Pure, peaceable, merciful *James 3:17
2. Righteous - Governs with truth and justice Proverbs 16:12
3. God-fearing - “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” _ Proverbs 9:10
4. Servant - Comes to serve, not to be served Mark 10:45
5. Truthful - Speaks truth even when it costs Proverbs 12:17
6. Blessing - His leadership adds no sorrow Proverbs 10:22
WISDOM VS CRAFTINESS: THE REAL DIFFERENCE
Wisdom protects the people. Craftiness uses the people.
Wisdom is honored by God. Craftiness is resisted by God - James 4:6.
Wisdom builds for generations. Craftiness burns bridges just to cross now.
Wisdom brings peace to a home and nation. Craftiness leaves guilt, fear, and regret behind.
You can always tell them apart by their fruit.
LET ME SAY THIS,
Yes, craftiness can "work" for a while.
But Proverbs 21:6 warns: “The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting v***r and a snare of death.”
Real wisdom doesn’t just make a man rich.
It makes a nation rich AND keeps it in peace.
Proverbs 10:22 “The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.”
So let me say it plain:
Cunning gets you power. Wisdom keeps it and blesses a nation.
As we pray, as we vote, as we talk — let’s stop asking for "smart" leaders.
Let’s ask God for WISE leaders.
Leaders with strategy and integrity.
Because our country doesn’t need another crafty politician.
Our country needs a wise ruler.
This is me just thinking out loud
Akinsulure Samuel
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