Devotional Friday: True Wisdom and A Mind of Christ

Throughout my years, interacting with both believers and non-believers, I have come to realize that the definition of wisdom varies among certain groups of people. For instance, when I was talking with a few people who were well-experienced with the world, they started labeling me immature - a baby. In fact, they still call me that sometimes. This is primarily because of how I act, decide, and respond to questions in general. The fact that I didn't date, party, or join in conversations mainly consisting dirty inside jokes, made them think I lack experience. And as the world tells us, "experience always brings wisdom."

But is real wisdom truly the output of too much experience of the world?

According to Merriam Webster, wisdom is knowledge that is gained by having many experiences in life.

Okay. Stop right there and hold your horses. Haven't you noticed? This definition of wisdom emphasizes the kind that you earn through experiences in life. How rational, it may seem to others. Earned wisdom. Hmm, why not?

But what does the Bible tell about true wisdom?

Psalm 111:10 tells us that, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom..."

Fear of the Lord isn't being scared of Him like you're scared of clowns or cockroaches. This fear springs from faith in the Lord - when you know that God is Lord over all and Creator of you and the universe. This fear springs from awe and adoration of His wondrous works that you could not afford to displease Him - because He is your King and Master. It's so easy to be deceived, don't you think, that wisdom is as easy as getting work experience for a job you're applying for?

"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."

1 Corinthians 2:6-7

It is so important to seek for the kind of wisdom that comes from the Spirit and not from this fleeting world. That's because it gets us closer into God's mind and perspective. We begin to see things in a new light. Seeking the knowledge that comes from the Spirit of God (who searches all things, even the deep things of God) is like seeking what God has in His mind. And only when we know what He has in mind do we get to act the way He wants us to act.

"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."

1 Corinthians 2:12

The Lord is not at all stingy when it comes to wisdom. In fact, He freely gives wisdom to those who ask for it. James 1:5 instructs us that, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him."

God wants us to understand His heart and mind. Well, of course eternity wouldn't even be enough to know Him entirely, but He still desires that we take steps closer as He does the same, deeper into intimacy.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him."

Isaiah 40:13

But He does wish it to be known, doesn't He? Paul tells us this in 1 Corinthians 2:10: "but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit." This is the secret wisdom that Paul was talking about - the wisdom that would bring glory and not destruction.

Isn't the fact that God wants us to be drawn closer to His mind worth rejoicing? Isn't it a great privilege?

Wisdom that comes from the world is and would always be futile. Sometimes though, we fail to realize where we get our wisdom from, and from whom.

"'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."

1 Corinthians 1:19-22

Remember that experience does not build up true wisdom, but having Christ's mind and praying for wisdom through the Holy Spirit does.

As it is written:

"'For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ."

1 Corinthians 2:16

Test the wisdom that fills you, my dear brothers and sisters. Is it of the Lord? Or of the world, of which He destroys?