WISDOM

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 4, 1903

There are two kinds of wisdom—the wisdom of God and the wisdom of men. “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” James 3:17. This is the wisdom that is contemplated in the instruction, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.” Prov. 4:7. This is the wisdom that begets a knowledge of God, which knowledge is life eternal. John 17:3. “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” James 3:13.

Now the contrast: “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” Verses 14–16. Such is “the wisdom of this world,” which is “foolishness with God.” The man who seeks after the wisdom of this world deceives himself; so the Spirit gives us the admonition: “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool [in the estimation of the world], that he may be wise [in God’s sight].” See 1 Cor. 3:18, 19.

By the wisdom of the world men never can know God, because the world deems the wisdom of God foolishness. Christ is the wisdom of God, yet He is “unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness.” The Greeks here stand for unbelievers in general. But what they esteem “foolishness” is “wiser than men.” So God chooses the things which the world’s wise men despise, and with these instruments confounds the wise—those who deem themselves wise.

Paul gives us another strong contrast between the wisdom of men and the true wisdom. He says Christ sent him “to preach the Gospel; not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us that are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.’ 1 Cor. 1:17–19.

How, then, are men to obtain the true wisdom? The answer is plain to all who believe the Scriptures of truth. The holy Scriptures “are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim. 3:15. To this we have the admonition, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” Col. 3:16.

Then all the wisdom that is of this world is valueless as a means of one’s own salvation or as a help in the salvation of others. “Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds;” but this did not fit him for leading the Lord’s people out of Egypt. He had to learn the true wisdom by communion with God in the wilderness, as he followed the humble occupation of caring for ordinary sheep. Tho Paul had much learning in the world’s schools, he had to be personally instructed by the Lord as a preparation for preaching the Gospel.

Wisdom from on high is manifested in the true missionary. “He that winneth souls is wise.” Prov. 11:30. And the reward is glorious; for “they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.” Dan. 12:3.