Daily Archives: May 11, 2019

WISDOM

Wisdom is inherent with God alone (Jude 25; Rom. 16:25). No man can claim to be wise who rejects the most basic facts of life or ignores reality. Instead of being called wise this person would be considered a fool. Those who reject God’s very existence are fools indeed, the exact opposite of wise (Psalm 1:1). If we would be wise, then, we must understand the fear of the Lord and seek after it as one might search for some hidden treasure (Prov. 2:1-5). How much better it is to get wisdom than gold or silver or rubies or anything else sought after in this world (Prov. 16:16; 8:11)! It is the Lord that gives wisdom because He alone possesses wisdom inherently (Prov. 2:6).

But if we lack wisdom and we sincerely seek it then we may apply to God for wisdom and He who gives liberally to all men will also give us wisdom (James 1:5). Of course, God limits His response to those who are His children (I Pet. 3:12). The world does possess a semblance of wisdom (I Cor. 1:19,20). Worldly wisdom, however, is earthly, sensual and devilish (James 3:15). But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy (James 3:17). But none of the princes of this world really knew wisdom for if they had possessed true wisdom they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (I Cor. 2:8).

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out (Romans 11:33)! If we know that we lack wisdom, we can gain wisdom by asking God for it and we can gain wisdom by receiving God’s word. The Bible says a person wise in heart will receive commandments but a prating fool shall fall (Prov. 10:8). Wisdom is not acquired just by experience for there are many who experience life in greater quantity than others but never learn. But wisdom, true wisdom, comes from fearing the Lord and consequently departing from evil (Job 28:12-28).

The Lord presents to us an image of wisdom as crying with a loud voice from the roof tops and every public place seeking to be understood and used (Prov. 8:1-4). Those that honestly seek wisdom early in life shall find it (Prov. 8:17). Wisdom is found in hearing and obeying God’s word (Prov. 8:32-36). All of our earthly days should be spent in seeking wisdom from the Lord (Psalm 90:12).

Truly it is in Christ where wisdom finds it’s fullest expression (Eph. 1:8). When we know Christ we know wisdom for Christ is the wisdom of God (I Cor. 1:24, 30), for in Him “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” ( Colossians 2:3). The Lord has revealed Himself unto us through His apostles in the wisdom of God’s perfect plan (I Cor. 2:6-13) “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God” (Ephesians 3:10).

It is by the scriptures that we can be made wise unto salvation (II Tim. 3:15-17). Thus, we should let the word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom (Col. 3:16). We should cease from our own wisdom and buy true wisdom and never sell it (Prov. 23:4; 23:23).

Having obtained unto wisdom, we should walk in wisdom toward those who are not members of the body of Christ (Col. 4:5). We should preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28). If we act according to His wisdom, no man would be able to resist the wisdom with which we speak His word (Acts 6:10). He that winneth souls is wise (Prov. 11:30).

Eric L. Padgett