Learning God’s Wisdom

KEY VERSE: “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 1:21

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: I Corinthians 1:18-31

THE CHARACTER OF God can be described by his four attributes: justice, power, wisdom, love. We would expect then, that when God created man in his own image, he would give him not only his moral image; not only dominion over earth as king; but he also made him in his mental image—a creature who could reason. Throughout the ages man has striven to develop his mental capability, but not always wisely or well. As man becomes more educated, pride can enter in, which the Adversary encourages. Human wisdom is not often in harmony with God’s wisdom.

In the verses of our Selected Scripture, the Apostle Paul contrasted human wisdom with God’s wisdom. He made it plain that his preaching to them was not with human wisdom, not with human oratory meant to persuade, but rather with the ‘foolishness of preaching’ the cross of Christ. “Christ crucified” (vs. 23) was a stumbling block to the Jews, and foolishness to the Gentiles. Little did the world know that “Christ crucified” was the epitome of the justice, the power, the love, and the wisdom of God.

In this letter to the Corinthians, Paul quoted Isaiah 29:14, which says: “It is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” During God’s kingdom it will be revealed that the cross of Christ is the basis for salvation, and is therefore the true wisdom of God. Mankind has failed to solve the problems of the world—they cannot find the key to quality life, or health, or peace, or happiness—by their own wisdom, and must learn to look to God for his wisdom.

Little wonder that Paul said, “Since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom (of their own), God decided through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe.”—vs. 21, Revised Standard Version

God has given those who are saved, the wisdom, first of all, to see their fallen condition. This is indeed wisdom. No one can take action to overcome weaknesses of the flesh unless they first recognize that they have such weaknesses. And no one can overcome their weaknesses without the ransoming merit of Christ. Hence, it is written: “Christ … the wisdom of God.”—vs. 24

Speaking of God, Paul said, “He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness [justification] and sanctification and redemption [deliverance].” (I Cor. 1:30) By recognizing our fallen condition and seeing the provision God has made in redeeming us from sin by the merit of Christ’s ransom, we have accepted Christ as our Redeemer, and made a consecration to God. This, in turn, has made possible our justification and sanctification, and eventually, our deliverance. This is why Christ is called “the power of God.”

But this knowledge, which is so precious to us, is foolishness in the eyes of the world. The world exalts worldly wisdom, power, wealth, fame, and status. How different are God’s standards, and how thoroughly they were appreciated by Jesus, who in prayer to the Father said, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and has revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.”—Matt. 11:25,26

Paul wrote: “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” (I Cor. 1:27) Why has God chosen such men? “He has chosen them “that no flesh should glory in his presence.”—vs.

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