Leading The Way - Week of August 30
Week of August 30
Seeking Godly Wisdom
What is the difference between godly wisdom and human wisdom? How can we discern between right and wrong thinking? The apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:18-31.
Human wisdom is any viewpoint or worldview invented by people and not rooted in God's Word. It is any statement, philosophy or false gospel that contradicts or twists the Bible. Human wisdom seeks to elevate self-will, pride and independence from God, diminishing His wisdom and absolutes. "Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a 'fool' so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight" (1 Corinthians 3:18,19).
God's wisdom is so far above our human understanding that we consider it foolishness. For centuries, humanity has tried to make sense of this world with philosophies and theories, because it could not grasp the Truth of God. Only God's wisdom will lead us on the right path. "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" (1 Corinthians 1:18).
From our limited human perspective, it seems impossible that God would become man, die on a cross, rise three days later, then ascend into heaven. It seems even more impossible that our salvation—our only chance to spend eternity in heaven—is rooted in our belief and following of Jesus Christ who died on that cross for our sins. Humanly speaking, how could the death of one man so long ago determine the destiny of every human being ever created? God's act of redemption makes no sense to the natural mind. Human wisdom cannot comprehend the Cross.
Yet no matter how unfathomable God's wisdom is, only God can give us the answers to the questions that we have no answers for—the meaning of life and our purpose here on earth. No human wisdom can provide true peace, joy, fulfillment or contentment in life. "For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength" (1 Corinthians 1:25).
Human wisdom may show us the problems of life, but it fails to give us the solutions. The root of all of our problems is sin, which humanity refuses to acknowledge. The unrepentant heart justifies and explains away sinful behavior. Human wisdom asks, "Who needs the Cross when we are good people?" However, human intellect cannot save us from an eternity in hell. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death" (Proverbs 16:25).
People consider the cross foolishness because admitting their sinfulness and the need for Christ's redemption means they must also surrender to God. They must give up their own wisdom and glory for God's. And most people are unwilling to admit God's ways are better than theirs.
Are you trying to apply human wisdom to God's Word? Are you seeing what you want to see in the Scriptures? Confess to God the times you abandoned His wisdom for your own. Pray for the Spirit's discernment in identifying God's Truths and applying them in your life.
"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."
Colossians 2:8
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