Forty years ago, I was privileged to be the pastor of one of the most knowledgeable and wisest women I ever have met. She lived less than a block from the church. She chose that house because she never drove a car and wanted to be able to walk to church.
She was a great cook. She taught our oldest ladies’ Sunday School class. She visited the shut-ins at home and those in nursing homes on a regular basis. She had retired from her position as director of nursing at the last tuberculosis sanitarium a few years before I met her.
Miss Mathison never had married but had devoted her life to others. Many times, she would come by my office on a Monday morning to make a positive comment on my sermon the day before. Before she would leave, she often would refer to the Scripture passage I had preached from the day before with this leading phrase, “Have you ever considered that …,” and an insight from God would pour out of her mouth that would cause me to go back to the passage and study again.
Her wisdom was far beyond the typical wisdom we so often admire in our world. She was humble and never pushy. There was no misunderstanding on her part about the source of her understanding and wisdom. God had revealed truth to her through the Holy Spirit. She had no hesitancy in denying any credit for herself. She gave all the credit to God.
The Apostle Paul used the second chapter of 1 Corinthians to help us understand the difference between the wisdom of men and the wisdom of God. As we go through this chapter, each of us must determine what we value most and what we seek most—the wisdom of men or the wisdom of God.
In 1 Corinthians 2:1-8, Paul wrote to the people at Corinth about his having withheld any ability to speak to them in a way they would be impressed by—his style, vocabulary, knowledge or ability to command attention. Rather, he had wanted them to only be drawn to God by his power. Therefore, he had spoken about Jesus and the meaning of his crucifixion.
For thought: As a preacher, I have preached sermons that seemed well-structured, informative, entertaining and challenging. The response to those sermons often was weak or unnoticed. At other times, perhaps when I was bothered by allergies and a little bleary from medicine, I have preached a little uncertain about what I would say next. Some of those times have been when God has moved the most. My interpretation has been that on those occasions the Holy Spirit has given the words and insights rather than my giving my more shallow perspective. Can you tell the difference between a sermon or a Sunday school lesson that comes from the Holy Spirit instead of just the talent of the speaker?
Today our first response to someone’s question for information or life in general is to “Google” it. While technology has provided us quick answers to simple questions, it is not to be our primary source as believers about understanding truth or living life.
In 1 Corinthians 2:9-11, Paul wrote man is not able to detect or discover God’s wisdom. God’s wisdom is not something we gain by our ability to see, hear or research. Rather, we are dependent totally upon God choosing to reveal his wisdom to us. He has chosen to reveal that to believers through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is given permission to search the very thoughts of God and to make them known to believers seeking after God’s truth. Through prayer, study of the Bible, and the teaching and preaching of the word, we have opportunity to have the Holy Spirit give us clarity about decisions we must make and actions we must take in our daily living.
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For thought: During those stress points of life when important decisions must be made that will alter the course of your life or others around you, whose counsel do you seek—a family member, a friend or God? Your answer reveals the kind of wisdom you are receiving.
As you read 1 Corinthians 2:12-16, how many examples of current-world thinking and values can you list? Those who do not believe in Christ hold these world values to be of ultimate worth. Paul is clear in saying that when they are confronted with God’s wisdom, they see it as foolishness. They reject it as being out of date or uninformed. Those of us in Christ have his mind or thoughts at our disposal because of the work of the Holy Spirit.
For thought: As you consider this difference between the wisdom of men or values of the world and God’s wisdom, which word in each pair is more characteristic of man’s wisdom and which is reflective of God’s wisdom? Fair or right? Retaliation or forgiveness? Happiness or Joy? Many ways or one way?
When we take time to really think and pray, we discover we are much more in tune with the wisdom of man than the wisdom of God. What changes do we need to make starting today in letting the Holy Spirit reveal to us God’s wisdom?
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