Thursday, November 9, 2023 Submitted by Kay Crumley
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. 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 declare God’s wisdom, a mystery 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.
Where Do We Get Wisdom
Paul had come to Corinth and worked with a couple, Aquila and Priscilla, as a tent maker to support himself. He stayed there for about a year and a half to share the gospel He wrote to them about his approach to teaching the message in Chapter 2. He resolved to do nothing but teach the message of Jesus Christ and His crucifixion. He didn’t come to them as a philosopher or salesman. He came as a witness, an ambassador, an official representative of Jesus Christ. The Jews of his day wanted a sign or miracle to prove who he was. Some had followed Jesus because of the signs and wonders He did, John 6:2. The Greeks sought after wisdom, 1 Cor 1:22. Paul didn’t cater to the desires of the listeners. He had one purpose and that was to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul did not want to persuade them to believe based on his remarkable preaching, human wisdom. We have all encountered gifted salesmen who can convince us to make a purchase even when it’s against our better judgement. As witnesses of Jesus, we are commissioned to tell others about Jesus, the Holy Spirit is who will convict them of their sin and need for a Savior. Just as it was for Paul, our job is to present the truth of God’s word simply and clearly and allow the Holy Spirit to demonstrate His power on a spiritual level. Our faith must not rest on our human understanding, at the human level, but on faith in God’s power. Human wisdom will not sustain anyone to have faith in His kingdom. The Holy Spirit fills us with hope abundantly, Rom. 15:13. The mature believer is one who will understand and discern the true meaning of the gospel. Wisdom that comes from God through the Holy
Spirit is true wisdom. That wisdom is only known to and understood by Christians. The wisdom of the world, the rulers of this age or human rulers, does not last and has no eternal value. Therefore, God’s wisdom is hidden from those who don’t know God and place their trust in worldly things. Those who are led by Satan seek temporary glory rather than the righteousness of God. Trust in God, understanding the Good News of Jesus Christ, is a mystery to them and they fail to comprehend eternal truths. The Lord of Glory is a high praise of Jesus. Paul recognized Him as the Son of God, the second of the Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Paul preached the Wisdom of God by declaring the Holiness of Jesus and the power of His resurrection to provide eternal life to those who believe. The worldly rulers of Paul’s time put the essence of Wisdom and Truth to death on the cross because they refused to accept Him as the One Messiah. That was God’s plan for Jesus so that He would be the sacrifice that takes away our sin. His death provided the way to become an adopted child of God.
Where does our wisdom come from? Who do we trust? What is the source of our knowledge and understanding? It is easy to fall into believing what we hear or read broadcast by news agencies. That can lead to focus on the ability of nations or leaders to solve the problems of the time. That could be wars, natural disasters, or diseases we are facing. Looking around us we hear and see the warnings about precautions we must take to protect ourselves from harm from various dangers. That can lead to placing our trust in the latest weapon, security system, or financial investments. We must be careful where our “facts” come from that provide knowledge and understanding. Reports can be skewed to shed favorable light on any set of circumstances. Each of us must evaluate all the facts to determine the truth. That may or may not be possible in human ability. The critical point is that true Wisdom comes from God alone. We must place our trust in His Word, and we must embrace the truth that He alone is in control of all.
