Tuesday, October 18, 2022

           There is no comparison between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of the world.  While we may know some really smart men and women, all human wisdom is limited and finite.  No one knows everything.  And not one person possesses perfect recall of the past, flawless knowledge of the present and keen insight into the future.  At best, we have some memories of the past, some understanding of the present and little more than dreams or hopes for the future.  In I Corinthians 1:18-20, Paul wrote about God’s wisdom and carefully contrasted it with man’s wisdom.  We read, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’  Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”  Paul gives us four lessons about wisdom.
            First, the world often regards God’s wisdom as foolishness or worthy of dismissal.  As an example, Paul pointed to the cross.  Most people in his day would have seen a death on a cross as demeaning and demoralizing.  “What good could come from a cross?” many would ask.  But the cross was where God satisfied His justice and extended His gracious love to a lost and dying world.  The cross was where God’s eternal plan for salvation found fulfillment and completion.  Those who know Christ, know what incredible power and wisdom are found at the cross.  But to those who are lost, the cross possesses no power or wisdom.  The cross teaches us to see the world from God’s perspective and through the lens of His wisdom.
            Second, God promises to frustrate or confound the “wisdom” of the “wise.”  That is to say, God will deal with those who profess or believe their wisdom is unimpeachable or unassailable.  God will expose them for their pride and selfishness.  Our wisdom must always be checked by humility and by comparing what we may think to what Scripture declares to be right.  We can easily find ourselves in conflict with what God has determined to be right or wrong.  If our wisdom stands in contrast to God’s wisdom, we must humbly repent and submit to Him.
            Third, God’s wisdom possesses the power to save.  Human wisdom cannot make such a boast.  Human views on salvation often conclude that we are saved by good works, everyone will be saved, the good we do must outweigh the bad we have done or that God may favor one category of people above another.  God’s wisdom teaches us that everything depends upon the cross—not good works or anything else humans may think or do.  Salvation was (and is) God’s idea.  We are simply invited to receive what He has conceived.  We welcome what He first offers and calls us to take.   
            And fourth, humans have much to learn from God and His perfect wisdom.  We can read God’s Word and take in valuable lessons about life, faith, parenting, prayer and how to use our blessings.  We will never fully draw out all the wisdom there is for us to discover in God’s Word.  Reading one chapter per day in Proverbs alone would be a graduate level education in God’s wisdom.  We can learn practical lessons about money management, marriage, friendship, forgiveness and making good choices in life.  God has not left us alone to figure out life by ourselves.  He has blessed us with all we need to know to be what He wants us to know so we can be who He wants us to be. 
            Joni Eareckson Tada turned 73 years-old on October 15, 2022.  She has been a quadriplegic since the age of 17 when a diving accident left her paralyzed from the neck down.  Her life mission, in her words, is “I want to be God’s best audio-visual aid of how His power shows up best in weakness.”  Now that is a mission!  May we be people who tap into the wisdom and power of God so that through us He is glorified and magnified to a world that desperately needs to know Him.  Have a great Tuesday!  Invite others to worship with us at youtube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.