The Wisdom From Above

In the Matrix film trilogy, there is a character deemed the "Oracle."  Morpheus and Neo sought her advice concerning the future because they believed she had wisdom they needed to be successful in their efforts.  Most things the Oracle said were ambiguous and unclear.  She limited herself and would not say all she knew, but said enough to put her seekers on the right path.  The implication is they would have to discover the truth for themselves - an approach which fits well in our current day of the embrace of relative truth.  Unfortunately this approach to wisdom is not limited to the science fiction but has been accepted as truth.  Relativism by many has been deemed absolute truth in a time when the existence of moral absolutes is flatly rejected.  There is great irony here for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.

The wisdom of God is nothing like what often passes for wisdom in this world.  Wisdom is far more than information or even the correct appropriation or personal application of knowledge.  The Bible says the "Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom."  True, genuine wisdom comes only from God.  Wisdom is not displayed by knowledge, belief, or mental understanding, but through the fear and reverence of God.  A wise man believes God exists, created all things, and is in control.  He recognises God is not like a man, and men are naturally opposed to God.  This means man, despite his best efforts, cannot know or walk in the wisdom of God.  The scriptures say that when fallen, faithless men see God's wisdom openly displayed, it appears to them foolishness (1 Cor. 2:14)!  Conversely, 1 Corinthians 3:19 says, "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness."

The wise of this world flaunt their knowledge, yet the truly wise are revealed in their willingness to receive correction from God.  A wise man realises in his natural state he is not inclined to do God's will and therefore needs to be changed from within.  He must be born again and embrace a life of being changed more into the image of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Christianity is more than hearing God's Word and doing it:  the implication is after being born again we must choose to accept God's way of thinking and live in dependance and obedience to His Word.  Our old life and ways of thinking must be replaced with God's plans for our future.  Jesus told a parable in Matthew 7:24-28:  "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: ²⁵ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: ²⁷ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

The foolish man in the parable heard the words of Jesus but chose to build in a place and in a way he saw fit.  He disregarded the instruction and correction of God.  Though he no doubt worked very hard at great expense, because his house was not firmly established on the rock it all fell to pieces when the storm hit.  He put aside God's plans for building his life and decided instead to build his dream home according to his own design and in the location he preferred.  He wanted beachfront property and he temporarily obtained his desire.  Sadly, all those efforts were a tragic waste.  The wise man heard the words of Jesus and chose to throw out his own plans.  He decided God's location and plans for building a life were better than his own.  He embraced all changes to his plans, methods, and future God demanded.  He built on the rock when a house on the beach still  sounded amazing.  Perhaps he would have been happy to build in the exclusive community that built on the sandy bluffs overlooking the sunrise.  I am not suggesting beachfront property cannot have a solid foundation on the rock.  The point is, wisdom is displayed in our willingness to admit our plans need to change, our way of thinking must change, our idea of a dream future on this earth must change, everything about us must change according to God's revealed design in His Word.

There are many smart, knowledgeable people in this world who do not possess wisdom from above.  They may be very wealthy, successful, influential, and powerful, yet they still lack God's wisdom.  James 3:13-18:  "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."  The wisdom is displayed through meekness, not arrogance or pride.  The wisdom of God is revealed in motives of love and humility.  True wisdom is not shown by how much we know or what we believe we have accomplished, but in gentleness and willingness to yield to God's control and commands in daily living.  The righteousness of a Christian is obtained by grace through faith in Christ, and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace.  Wisdom is revealed when we accept chastening from God and even correction from men.

Are you willing to yield when Christ speaks?  Will wisdom from above be displayed in your life when you lay down your precious plans and adopt God's plans for your conduct, life, and thinking through scripture?  Only Christians have the wisdom from above, but do not be deceived to think by virtue of your beliefs by default you are living wisely.  How many times have we built something God condemned because it was not in His plans!  How easy it is to stray from building on the foundation of Christ because we have decided our ideas and plans are best.  Our plans are precious because we've poured our hearts into them, they cost us a fortune, and we are not willing to give them up!  True wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, and willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and hypocrisy.  When you read "partiality and hypocrisy," don't primarily think of how you relate to others, but how we can be partial and hypocritical concerning ourselves.  When it comes to biblical change, Christians are wise to adopt a "Me first!" approach.  Mary told the servants, "Whatever Jesus says, do it!" and we are wise to heed her words!  Wisdom is not something we discover on our own, but something Jesus is for us.  1 Corinthians 1:30-31 says, "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- ³¹ that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."