DEMONSTRATED FAILURES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Sep 24, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 39.

DEMONSTRATED FAILURES.

IV. Wisdom.

ALTHO, among the things that a man can "get" in this world, the "principal thing" is wisdom (Prov. 4:7), it is also true that "in much wisdom is much grief." Eccl. 1:18. It was Solomon through whom we are advised to get wisdom, yet it is Solomon who says there is "much grief" connected with wisdom. This, of course, depends upon the use that is made of it. Wisdom, as well as honor or wealth, may be so perverted that it will lead one away from God. Of itself it will not keep one in the right way. See Eze. 28:3-7, 17.

The Scriptures do not commend men for their wisdom; the one righteous quality in man is faith. "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Gal. 3:6. All other qualities that commend the individual to God are built upon, or added to, faith. See 2 Peter 1:5-8. Cain had as good instruction as Abel had; he knew the "letter" of the commandment as well as Abel did. It was not by his superior wisdom that Abel offered a "more excellent sacrifice than Cain;" it was by his faith. Enoch was not translated because of his wisdom, but because of his faith. See Hebrews 11. Moses was "learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians," the then leading kingdom of earth; but when he undertook in his own wisdom to deliver Israel, he failed. At that time, notwithstanding his wisdom, he feared the wrath of the king, and fled for his life. Forty years later, it is said that "by faith he forsook Egypt [taking Israel with him], not fearing the wrath of the king."

The "wisdom of Solomon" is a proverb the world over, and his wisdom was God-given in direct answer to prayer. "God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, . . . and Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the East country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men." 1 Kings 4:29-31. "And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom." Verse 34.

Did all this wisdom keep Solomon from falling? For answer read the record in 1 Kings 11:1-13. Sufficient for the present purpose is verse 4: "It came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father." The Scriptures tell us more than that "the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God." We have in Solomon's experience the demonstrated fact that wisdom imparted direct from the mind of God will not, in and of itself, either save the sinner or keep the professed Christian from falling. We are not justified by wisdom, but by faith (Rom. 5:1), and then "the just shall live by faith." Gal. 3:11.

Then, if the wisdom that is of God is powerless to convert the sinner, or to sustain the just, without the reciprocity of faith, it is no wonder that the wisdom of man comes so far short. The wisdom of man is but the perversion of the wisdom that comes from God, and is therefore a positive detriment to the work of the Gospel. Not many wise are called (1 Cor. 1:26); that is, not many "wise" respond to the call. "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise." Verse 27. "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men." Ch. 3:20, 21. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of [true] wisdom," and that fear comes from faith in the Word. It is only by letting the Word of Christ dwell in us, that is, in the heart, that it is of any avail.

The Jews were instructed out of the law of God, and therefore knew His will. Rom. 2:18. This was their wisdom and their understanding in the sight of the nations (Deut. 4:6), and "a good understanding have all they that do His commandments." Ps. 111:10. But their knowledge of God's will could not save them. Their "wisdom" failed to bring them to Christ because of their lack of faith. Rom. 3:20. When the Gospel was preached to them it "did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." G.