Based on 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 (New King James Version)
“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness’; and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.’”
I read this quote by David Spade and thought that it was rather funny and relevant: “In grade school I was smart, but I didn't have any friends. In high school, I quit being smart and started having friends.” There are some parallels that can be drawn from today’s passage and quote. But before we do that, what is wisdom? What qualifies something as being wise or as wisdom? According todictionary.com, wisdom is defined as: “knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.” So, the definition may incite yet more questions like, “what is truth,” or, “what is right”? What is just judgment?
What we are encountering is that wisdom can be quite subjective. It seems that wisdom is like art. For instance, and like art, a picture or a painting or a sculpture can be mesmerizingly beautiful to one person; but to someone else, it can awful. There are things that a certain person may say and do that can seem almost divine to some people; but to others, they could seem quite stupid. How can we then qualify something that is so subjective then?
One way of judging something as being wise is the test of time. After all, if something is truly wise, then it should be a concept or thought that worked before, it should work now, and of course, it should work in the future. How can something be wise or be considered wisdom if it only works sometimes? If you can’t count on it always as being right, then should it be considered wise?
The second way of judging something as being wise is by understanding if it yielded lasting good results. So, if something yielded a temporary benefit, as opposed to a lasting benefit, could it be considered as being wise? What was the benefit? For instance, saving some money is always a good idea, especially if you are trying to put some away to get you through a rough spot. If you do that, wouldn’t that help you be ready for that unpredictable moment when something could go wrong? And if you never use it, wouldn’t it be a good idea to just keep that somewhere safe for retirement? Saving a bit of money can help you in the immediate future, as well as in the distant future. It’s a “wise” practice if you are able to do it.
The third test could be to consider the source of where the information is coming from. For example, there are all kinds of people with all kinds of thoughts, suggestions, and opinions. I’ll give you two examples with very secular aspects. The first one could involve someone that gives you advice on fitness and being shape. Would you listen to someone’s advice who has a weight problem or does not look healthy? The second example is: would you take investment tips or financial advice from people who are bankrupt, poor, or have gone to jail for some of their “financial creativity”? (I hope that these things are making you think a bit. Questioning things can be healthy.)
Continuing the point on considering the source, it would be a good idea to consider its “limitations”. What I mean by “limitations” is: “How dependable is the source that the information is coming from?” I will start with this. I have no problems with pure science. However, there are some “sciences” that venture into the theoretical. At the same time, it is important to understand the limitations of people. Yes, as people, we are very limited. Science attempts to explain certain things, but it should not be perceived as ultimate truth for the simple reason that the people that have put it together are very limited, with limited abilities. Knowing our limitations is what should help us understand that we need to grasp to something, or to Someone that is greater than us.
For example, if a scientist can explain the laws of gravity on earth, are they able to recreate “physically” gravity for the entire planet? They can try to explain it, but can they do it? Can they create anything? Remember, “creating” something involves making something out of “nothing”. No human being has the capability of bringing something that doesn’t exist into existence without having something to work with. And no matter how much they can explain certain things, they cannot recreate those very things they explain. Going even further, the more we “evolve”, the greater our problems seem to become. At the same time, we cannot even fix the old problems that still remain. It seems like we take one step forward, and two backwards. The science of medicine has this very limitation; which I have experienced firsthand.
So, by the various tests explained, what is truly wisdom? If you have the ability to reason, I would hope that you will understand that earthly wisdom is very limited because of its human origin and limitations. It is not “wise” to see something as ultimate truth and base your life on it if it was generated by a source that is limited, fallible, and passing. Logic would dictate that we need to seek wisdom from something or Someone that has withstood the test of time, yielded lasting results, and has the ability or capacity of eternity.
Here is the last point, and how it relates further to our passage and quote somewhat. Heavenly wisdom is not popular on this earth. Most people are attracted to vain, superficial, and very temporary things. But what should help you value Godly wisdom is what it’s offering you. God offers you a wisdom that will help you now (today), and in eternity. Godly wisdom has brought up very humble people to very high places, and has brought down the arrogance of great empires and armies. So, would you rather depend on human wisdom, though popular, could yield poor results now and in the future, or would you rather seek after God’s wisdom that can help you now, and benefit you for all eternity, after all of this gone? Bear this in mind: if God exists and He is eternal, no one can know more than Him. Lord bless! John