Christ, The Wisdom Of God

Feature 1 – June 2021 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Christ, The Wisdom of God

We Can Ask God For Wisdom
But if any one of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all freely and reproaches not, and it shall be given to him. —James 1:5 JND

Where do we go for wisdom? Many of us are thankful for this verse. Perhaps most of us have searched the internet for information and facts, but this verse tells us that our wisdom as believers comes from God. If we feel that we lack wisdom, we only have to ask our God and Father. Moses, for instance, was learned in all the wisdom of Egypt. Then God sent him into the wilderness to learn in God’s school for 40 years. As believers, we do not want the wisdom of Egypt, which is a type of this present evil world. Instead, we want God’s wisdom. He will provide, if we ask in dependence on Him.

Let us also consider Solomon. Scripture tells us, “Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the sons of the east ... He was wiser than all men” (1 Ki. 4:30-31). How did Solomon obtain this wisdom? It was in the way that is open to every child of God today: he asked God! We can read Jehovah’s question to Solomon and his resulting prayer for wisdom in 1 Kings 3:5-9, and then God’s answer in verse 12 and 4:29. Although there is much here, we will only discuss a few points.

• Solomon acknowledged that God had put him in the place where he was as king. We notice a lack of boasting in Solomon. He humbly stated what God had done.
• Solomon admitted, “I am but a little child: I know not to go out and to come in” (3:7). He was not too proud to admit his ignorance and need of God’s help. Sometimes pride hinders us, or keeps us, from seeking the wisdom that is from above. We can mouth the words, but the Lord searches our hearts. May we be humble and honest before Him.
• Solomon was assured of the love of Jehovah for His people. “Thy servant is in the midst of Thy people which Thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.” (v.8). Remember when dealing with the Lord’s people today in situations where wisdom is needed, the Lord loves His people far more than we do and sees them as a “great people.”
• Solomon realized, as we see in the same verse, the immensity of the task before him. He did not say to God, “You picked the right man, I can handle this!” No, he asked Jehovah to “give therefore to Thy servant an understanding heart, to judge Thy people, to discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this Thy numerous people” (v.9).

We read that Solomon’s prayer pleased the LORD, and He told him, “I have done according to thy word: behold, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart” (v.12). This is also confirmed in the next chapter: “And God gave Solomon wisdom and very great understanding and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the seashore” (4:29).

Dear reader, is pride keeping you from receiving God’s wisdom? How often we have our own thoughts about how situations should be handled or how we can help people. We believe that in urgent situations we may have God’s wisdom for the moment of need. He is gracious. However, in the normal matters of life, have you acknowledged your ignorance to the heart-knowing God and asked for His wisdom? He is ready to answer such a cry.

What Is Wisdom?
The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy is intelligence. —Proverbs 9:10

Wisdom is often defined as the ability to apply knowledge. There are people who are very smart and know many facts, but they are not always very wise in applying what they know. The Hebrew word translated “wisdom” means “skill in war, wisdom in administration, prudence in religious affairs.” Webster’s dictionary (1913 ed.) says wisdom is “knowledge, and the capacity to make due use of it.”

The first mention of wisdom in Scripture is in Exodus, in relation to the building of the tabernacle (28:3, 31:3,6, 35:26,31,35, 36:1-2). Bezaleel and Aholiab needed wisdom as those in charge of the building project; but each worker needed the wisdom from God for his part, too. The women who spun goat’s hair to be used in the curtains needed wisdom (35:26) just as others did in their tasks. It is the same today for those who have part in the “habitation of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 2:22). Whether leaders or followers, older or younger saints, we all need wisdom in order to know how to fill our God-given role for the glory of the Lord Jesus, to build up God’s dwelling place today – the Church of God.

Wisdom From Above
If ye have bitter emulation [“envying,” KJV] and strife in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This is not the wisdom which comes down from above, but earthly, natural, devilish ... But the wisdom from above first is pure, then peaceful, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits, unquestioning, unfeigned. —James 3:14-15,17

In James 3 we have a contrast between the wisdom that is from above and the wisdom that is from beneath. This shows us that there is wisdom from God and a wisdom that is not of God. The wisdom of the one who controls the world is “earthly,” having the earth and men in view but not God or His will. It is “natural,” presenting what appeals to the natural man – man apart from God; it also appeals to the flesh – the old sinful nature. This wisdom is “devilish,” which shows its source is from beneath. The Devil is wise in the sense of being crafty and cunning. His “artifices,” or “wiles” (KJV), are what we have to be on guard against (Eph. 6:11). As believers we do not want this wisdom, and we need to stand against it.

In refreshing contrast, the wisdom from above – God’s wisdom – has seven good qualities (JND):

1. Purity. If something impure is suggested to us, we know immediately that this is not God’s wisdom. His wisdom is according to His character: pure and holy.
2. Peaceful. The wisdom from beneath leads to emulation (envy) and strife. This wisdom put the Lord Jesus on the cross, as even Pilate knew that the chief priests and scribes delivered up the Lord because of envy (Mk. 15:10). The wisdom from above leads to peace among His people and enables us to live at peace with all men (Rom. 12:18).
3. Gentle. This goes with the next quality.
4. Yielding. The wisdom from beneath demands its own way and is not concerned with who may get hurt in getting it. We see an example of this with the crowds demanding from Pilate the death of the Lord Jesus. They knew how to get their way by putting pressure on Pilate: “If thou releasest this Man, thou art not a friend to Caesar” (Jn. 19:12). This way of dealing with one another should not be seen among the Lord’s people. God’s wisdom is gentle, not harsh. It is yielding, not demanding its rights but ready to listen and heed others if necessary. We are not, of course, to compromise the truth, but how often there has been strife among brethren because another believer wants to do things or has a view of things that is a little different than mine. The Lord Jesus was both gentle and yielding.
5. Full of mercy and good fruits. Rather than striving with people, God’s wisdom has mercy on others who are in need. This wisdom recognizes that some of the Lord’s people are hurting, and it seeks to provide help. If mercy is manward, the fruits, as generally in Scripture, are Godward. This wisdom leads to fruit that is for God’s glory and praise. If we display this wisdom we will in that measure display Christ before God in this world. That is the greatest fruit we can bring forth!
6. Unquestioning, or without partiality (KJV). The wisdom from above does not play favorites or question the motives of others.
7. Unfeigned (JND). In other words, it is real and makes us real. The Lord Jesus spoke about false prophets “which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but within are ravening wolves” (Mt. 7:15). So much in the world around us today is false or gives a false impression. This is true even in the professing church. If we seek the wisdom which comes from God, it will make us true, real and transparent to other believers as well as to the unsaved with whom we have contact.

Let us seek this wisdom that is from above!

Who Is God’s Wisdom?
But to those that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ God’s power and God’s wisdom. —1 Corinthians 1:24

But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who has been made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and holiness, and redemption; that according as it is written, He that boasts, let him boast in the Lord. —1 Corinthians 1:30-31

I was set up from eternity, from the beginning, before the earth was ... I was by Him His nursling, and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him; rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth, and My delights were with the sons of men. —Proverbs 8:23,30-31

We have seen that wisdom is a quality of God which He is able to impart to us. In closing, we just would notice that wisdom is not only a quality but also a person: the Son of God Himself, our Lord Jesus Christ. In Proverbs 8, Solomon began to speak of wisdom, but from verse 22 he went on about Him who is wisdom. The Lord Jesus was there in creation, and the New Testament tells us He is the Creator (Col. 1:16). What great wisdom we see displayed in the creation around us, whether we zoom in on the microscopic world or zoom out to the stars and galaxies! When we notice how everything works together, we may well marvel at Christ, God’s wisdom, who set everything in order. In Ecclesiastes 1:7 we are told about the water cycle, which most of us take for granted unless we get too much or too little rain. Who set this up? Our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ! We can marvel and praise Him for the wisdom seen in creation. Praise His name!

Also, we can praise the Father and the Son for the wisdom seen in redemption. The work of the Lord Jesus on the cross, His death and resurrection, has allowed God to be “just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26 KJV)! What amazing love and grace, but also what wisdom is seen in our God’s plan to save!

The Word of God tells us that Christ “is made unto us wisdom” (1 Cor. 1:30). He really is everything for His people! Our Father has provided the wisdom we need for our earthly pathway in His beloved Son just as He has provided righteousness, holiness and redemption for us through Christ.

How can we enjoy this wisdom? It is by keeping near to the Lord and seeking His face day by day. We need to read His Word daily and “pray without ceasing” (1 Th. 5:17). While the Lord is available to us in our emergencies, and He is gracious, He really desires us to remain near to Him everyday, throughout our lives. May we all know Him more and more as our Wisdom!

By Kevin Quartell