The Wisdom of God by Johnny Pope

We all need wisdom! The Bible says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7). “For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it” (Proverbs 8:11). “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding” (Proverbs 3:13).

What is Wisdom?

Definitions of wisdom read: “quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.” The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., gives as primary definition of wisdom, “capacity of judging rightly in matters relating to life and conduct; soundness of judgment in the choice of means and ends; sometimes, less strictly, sound sense, especially in practical affairs: opposed to folly.”

The Scottish philosopher Francis Hutcheson wrote that “Wisdom denotes the pursuing of the best ends by the best means.” Robert Nozick says, “Wisdom is an understanding of what is important, where this understanding informs a (wise) person’s thought and action. Wisdom is what you need to understand in order to live well and cope with the central problems and avoid the dangers in the predicaments human beings find themselves in.”

Beware of Worldly Wisdom

Caution! there is the wisdom of the world and then there is the wisdom of God. Pastor James said, “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work”(James 3:13-16). So the wisdom of this world is base, craving the evil of the world and never having satisfaction. It is full of hatred in a dog- eat-dog world. It is confusing and births all manner of corruptness.

Contrariwise, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easyto be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17). The great wisdom of God, the true “sophia”(Greek for “wisdom”) is “pure”(chaste and clean),“peaceable”(beneficial and health-giving), “gentle” (appropriate and patient); it is full of good works, true, genuine, approachable and attainable. God’s wisdom is guilt-free, rewarding and is God’s way of bringing us step by step through every phase of our life. God’s wisdom will help us in every age and stage of our life. This is the wisdom that we need and would do well to seek.

1. The Wisdom of God is Better than the Mind of Man.

“Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not Godmade foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (I Corinthians 1:20, 21).

“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (I Corinthians 2:4,5).

These words are needed in the day in which we are living. God is the only one who can get us out of the social, economic and spiritual problems that plague us. God is the only one who can keep marriages in harmony. He alone brings the ultimate joy in life vocation. Perhaps there are some reading this who really don’t enjoy who you are and what you do. The world can only give pleasure for a season. Don’t be deceived; the false sense of “happy” is bait from Satan to get you so involved in the quicksand of the world that he will make you feel you are unable to get out of the quagmire once you feel the evil pangs of judgment for unwise living.

The Bible says that Moses chose “….rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25). (WATCH: Let God Choose for You by Scott Pauley)

Wisdom For Each Day

Proverbs 10:22 shows us God’s long-term plan for those who get wisdom and apply it in everyday decisions. Observe: “The blessing of the LORD, itmaketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” The world doesn’t give wisdom, therefore they cannot aptly teach it. This would be like 2nd graders with algebra books in front of them trying to teach each other. Jesus said, “…they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14). Let us go to God through our Lord and Savior and find the wisdom of the ages! “…Behold, a greater than Solomon is here” (Luke 11:31).

In ancient Greece young men fought for the honor of sitting at the feet of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. What Christians have in Jesus is so much better than all the world’s best philosophers could ever offer: “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (I Corinthians 1:24). “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (I Corinthians 1:30). Since Christ is the beginning point of wisdom, relationship to Him is imperative. Therefore: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…” (Colossians 3:16). “In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). Christ is the source; let us run to Him!

2. The Wisdom of God is Better than the Might of Man.

The prophet said to the king, “…Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). Life’s answers are not found in man’s ingenuity or cleverness, but in the life directed by the Holy Spirit. Man’s philosophy (study of wisdom) without God is not only fruitless, it is lethal! The Bible says, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Colossians 2:8). Man’s reasoning is “mental candy” that creates mental cavities.

The Example of Alexander the Great

Aristotle was the personal tutor of Alexander the Great. The one thing Aristotle could not give Alexander was true greatness. On the afternoon of June 10 – 11, 323 BC, Alexander died of a mysterious illness in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon. He was just one month shy of attaining 33 years of age. He had conquered the world but wept for there were no more worlds to conquer. Was it perhaps because he could not conquer his own personal weaknesses? The Bible teaches: “He that that ruleth his spirit (is better than the mighty or) than he that taketh a city” (Proverbs 16:32). “Wisdom is better than weapons of war…” (Ecclesiastes 9:18). “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

3. The Wisdom of God is Yours for the Asking.

Wisdom is not conjured up, worked up, or psyched up. Wisdom is a gift. “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6). The best example of this is given in the life of young Solomon. God said to Solomon “Ask what I shall give thee”(II Chronicles 1:7). The young king replied, “Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?” (II Chronicles 1:10). The Bible went on to say, “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt” (I Kings 4: 29,30).

Does this not create in you a desire for the kind of wisdom that would aid you at every turn of life? Then please join me in claiming: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).

Please remember, being right with God is the prerequisite: “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom” (Psalm 51:6). “He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly” (Proverbs 2:7).