WISDOM FROM GOD
1 Corinthians 1:20–25; 2:9–16
I once saw a sticker on the back of a crosswalk sign in a college town that read, “If you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room.” That made me think for quite a while.
This statement could mean that you should not waste your time with those who cannot comprehend who you are or what you are trying to communicate. It could also mean that if you are the most intelligent person in the room, you are less likely to learn from others or be challenged to think or consider new ideas. Arrogance can result from a statement like that.
I am persuaded that there are more things in this world I do not know than I do, and God can use every person I come into contact with or every situation I face to teach me something about myself, others or Him.
It is liberating to accept that you do not know everything. It allows you to be teachable and to grow. There is no better example of this than in our spiritual walk with God. All true and lasting wisdom comes from Him.
We live in a world where opinions and feelings dominate decisions. It is essential for the Christian to seek and properly apply God’s wisdom.
Worldly wisdom amounts to foolishness. (1:20–25)
We each have a world of information literally at our fingertips, accessible anytime we choose. The facts you seek may be about health, news, sports or even useless trivia. However, at the end of our lives, all the earthly information we have accumulated will matter very little. Although many people spend more time seeking the ways of the world than they do the words of God, all the information we can attain on this earth is useless in the presence of Jesus if we do not know Him.
The Holy Spirit reveals the mind of God. (2:9–11)
As Christians, we do ourselves and our churches a great disservice when we fail to appreciate, depend on and fear the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God. He is not less than, nor a substitute for, knowing Christ in an intimate, saving relationship.
Anything we know about Jesus or the heavenly Father is the result of the Holy Spirit revealing Himself to us. You may think you do not need the Holy Spirit in your life. You cannot be more mistaken. As you read and meditate on Scripture, it is the Holy Spirit who teaches and guides us toward truth.
We must depend on the Holy Spirit to distinguish God’s will from human thinking. (12–16)
I have a good friend who uses a pros and cons list on a legal pad when weighing an important decision. That approach may be OK for choosing a car’s interior color, but it is not recommended when it comes to the ways or will of God.
Only the Holy Spirit can transform our minds into the likeness of Jesus. Being the smartest person in the room has nothing to do with your walk with the Lord; submission to the Holy Spirit does. Our churches are in desperate need for the wisdom only God can provide. Seek Him, study His Word and depend on the Holy Spirit.
By Bobby McKay
Pastor of New Liberty Baptist Church in Morton, Mississippi
