When mankind sets out to discover the truths that the Bible holds, with what mindset do we enter into this journey of discovery? Do we begin it with an earnest and honest desire to find truth or do we hold some agenda other than an honest study of God’s word? Over the centuries, many have searched diligently to find untruths or inconsistencies to make some sort of scholarly debunking of the Scriptures. In this effort, there have been those who not only have seen the truths contained in them, but eagerly searched for answers to spiritual questions they have developed in their search. They have actively sought those who have read and come to similar conclusions; God does exist and His Scriptures contain the words that will put them in a relationship with the Creator they have discovered.
Unfortunately, there will always be people who maintain that there are truths that are not consistent with the Scriptures. These individuals confidently assert that their intelligence is superior to that of believers. And, their intelligence coupled with their education leads them to be superior in wisdom. Well, what is wisdom? First, let’s look at some definitions in which these individuals feel superior. Intelligence: the capacity for learning. Knowledge: the acquaintance with facts gained from study. Education: the process of acquiring knowledge. And, wisdom: knowledge coupled with good judgment. Where the difference lies between the wise of this world and the wisdom of believers is the source of knowledge and from whom it is obtained; in other words, secular wisdom versus heavenly wisdom. These two types of wisdom contain two types of judgment.
Fortunately for us, God anticipated that man would gain so much self confidence that he would eventually feel superior in judgment to God and His children, and finally dismiss Him altogether. He has given us insight into what true wisdom is. The writer of Ecclesiastes, who I believe was Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote much about his life’s pursuits using his great wisdom. He wrote about the futility of seeking answers to life through things like pleasure, riches and earthly wisdom. He said in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14: “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” If you seek wisdom, seek it from God not from the scholars of this world.
In the book of Job, God had some questions for Job and his counselors after they had expressed their views based on their own wisdom. Let’s read just a few verses containing God’s view of man’s knowledge and wisdom verses His own which is contained in chapters 38 through 41. Job 38:1-7: “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said. ‘Who is this that darkens counsel, by words without knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man, and I will ask you, and you instruct Me! Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who set its measurements, since you know? Or who stretched the line on it? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?’” Get the message? When you start feeling arrogant in your intelligence, knowledge and wisdom, remember what is said here to Job, who are you to question God?
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 about the wisdom of the world versus the wisdom of God. He knew the message of God would be deemed foolishness by man. In verse 25, he states “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” This is hard to swallow for the intellectually elite of this world. Those who would call into question the great miracles of our God recorded throughout His word from Genesis to Revelation, God would ask: who are you to question Me? They rely on the very gifts God has given them to bring into question His very existence. They rely on science and all the measureable facts contained in it to question God. He gave us the very science we are abusing by creating doubt about our heavenly Father. We need to be careful! Paul said in verse 26 that those answering God’s call would not contain many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty and not many noble. Look at the apostles; not many wise, mighty or noble.
James tells us in chapter 3 that there is a wisdom that comes from above and one that is earthly. They are not the same. God has given us the source of knowledge that will save men’s souls, and it is His word. He has told us what he wants us to know and that’s all we can know. He has knowledge that He has not shared with us. He is God and it is His right to do so. In Deuteronomy 29:29, He tells us there are things He holds secret from us, but what He has revealed is for us and every generation. We must resign ourselves to the fact we don’t know everything, but we need to be about the business of learning what He has given us to know. We need to pray for wisdom from God to understand what we have learned. And, we need to pray that as we gain knowledge and get wisdom from the Father that the word will produce a faith in us to trust Him and leave the secret things to Him. When we can do that, we will truly become wise.
–Ron Adams
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