Guard Against Wisdom?

Wisdom is highly prized (and many times, sorely lacking) in our world today. At one time in my life, I foolishly assumed that wisdom was wisdom, no matter the source. Not so. In fact, the wisdom of the world can be a huge detriment to our spiritual lives.



Don't believe me? Then let's check a few examples from the Bible, starting with some of the greatest "thinkers" in history.



Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left. Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place every day with those who happened to be present. And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, “What would this idle babbler wish to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming? For you are bringing some strange things to our ears; so we want to know what these things mean.” (Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new.) ~Acts 17:15-21 (NASB)



Epicureans followed the teaching of Epicurus, a Greek philosopher who believed, like the hedonists, that pleasure was the greatest good. But unlike hedonism, followers of this philosophy attempted to achieve pleasure by living modestly, which supposedly would lead to a life free of fear and pain.



In contrast, the philosophy of the Stoics was based on the belief that moral and intellectual perfection could be reached, so that those who achieved this feat would never suffer from destructive emotions. Their teachings rested firmly on the human will as a way to reach virtue.



Though Athens was the center of human wisdom, Paul's spirit was very much troubled by the paganism that surrounded him. I find it very telling that though full of human wisdom, this great city of ancient Greece seemed devoid of the worship of the One True God.





A view of the Areopagus from the Acropolis

The Areopagus is a huge slab of marble where the great thinkers of the day would meet to discuss and debate the latest thoughts and ideas. I can almost see them pulling Paul atop the giant rock, curious about this traveler with the dust of the ancient world on his feet and the gospel of Jesus' resurrection on his lips. Perhaps they looked down their long noses at him, intent on making sport of him. They had no idea what they'd gotten themselves into...



Paul proceeded to bring up their statue to the unknown God, by introducing them to the One True God. As is usually the case, the results were mixed. Some sneered, but some believed (Acts 17:22-34).



Worldly Wisdom vs. God's Wisdom

Later, when Paul addressed the church at Corinth, he once more broached the subject of man's wisdom compared to the wisdom that comes from God. Enjoy these nuggets of wisdom that he preached to the Corinthians.



1. Human wisdom empties Christ's cross of its power.

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. ~1 Corinthians 1:17 (NIV)
2. God destroys the wisdom and intelligence of man by the message of the cross, which seems foolish to those with worldly wisdom.

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. For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
    the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ~1 Corinthians 1:18-24 (NIV)



3. God's foolishness is wiser than man's wisdom (In other words, there's no comparison.)

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ~1 Corinthians 1:25-27 (NIV)
 

4. God's wisdom is revealed through His Spirit to those who believe.

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written:

“No eye has seen,
    no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
    what God has prepared for those who love him”—

but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. ~1 Corinthians 2:6-13 (NIV)
5. The world's "wisdom" is futile and foolish.

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. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” ~1 Corinthians 3:18-20 (NIV)



In conclusion, all that claims to be wisdom isn't true wisdom, because true wisdom comes only from God. If you want to be wise, the only course of action is to humble yourself before the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, God Almighty. He, and He alone, is the source of true wisdom, and you'll never reach it without Him.



But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ~James 1:5 (NASB)



Almighty Father, thank You that You have revealed Your truth to the foolish ones of this age. Thank You that true wisdom can only be found in knowing You. May we shun the foolishness of those in our world who find faith foolish, and instead ground ourselves in You, Your power, and Your wisdom. Amen.