Foolishness Without God

Yesterday I read a meme which contained a quote I have seen attributed to the stoic Seneca:  "The wise man is neither raised up by prosperity nor cast down by adversity; for always he has striven to rely predominantly on himself, and to derive all joy from himself."  What was intended to be a "mic-drop" quote fell flat with a whimper, for this reeks of the wisdom of man which is foolishness with God.  Words are not true or insightful because they were recorded from ancient times but because they agree with God who is our Wisdom and words God has spoken.  This empty philosophy is completely without footing, a humanist ideal which fails entirely because it depends upon the strength of mortal, flawed men.

A careful read of this statement reveals it to be self-defeating and contradictory.  Because men are continually raised up by prosperity and cast down by adversity it could be truly said there is not a wise man among us.  "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom," said wise King Solomon in Proverbs 9:10.  According to Seneca, the wise always strives to rely predominately on himself.  Though a man may strive he cannot always be successful to achieve his aims.  It is amusing a man relies "predominantly" on himself which shows reliance upon others is a necessary admission.  Men are not born but are raised, and there is not a male infant from birth who did not completely rely upon others for his survival to grow to be a man.  In total contrast to the claim of Seneca, the Bible teaches the wise wholly rely on the LORD in faith, hearing the words of Jesus and doing them.  A man who strives to rely upon himself is a pitiful substitute for the living God who created him.

Seneca says the wise always strives to "derive all joy from himself."  The massive problem with this approach is man is not capable of producing genuine joy which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).  Feelings of happiness often depend on what happens, not because our hearts are themselves a natural spring of joy for us to tap into.  Positive may our personalities be, but this is a thin veneer over immeasurable emptiness within our souls.  Physically man is a finite creature of limitations:  our lifespan is measured by years, height by millimetres, and weight by kilograms.  What can be measured has an end.  We can have every need met yet remain devoid of the joy we seek.  Even if joy was to be derived from us, it would have a sure end.  Nehemiah told people sorrowing for sin to celebrate their understanding of God's law because "...The joy of the LORD is your strength." (Neh. 8:10)  People who felt sharp pangs of guilt were able to rejoice because in faith they trusted and obeyed God who strengthened them to do so.  Joy has everything to do with the goodness of God who does not change when we know He knows and loves us.  Joy is not derived from self but a gift from God.

There is no doubt Seneca was a very intelligent man, yet the most learned are not necessarily wise.  God is the only One qualified to define and determine this.  Paul was a contemporary of Seneca who conversed with philosophers often.  In contrast to the claim of Seneca, Paul wrote inspired by the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 3:18-23, "Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness"; ²⁰ and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." ²¹ Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: ²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come--all are yours. ²³ And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's."  A philosophy which accounts for man's efforts but not for the one true God is most empty and futile indeed.

Driving Truth Home

As king Solomon wrapped up his discourse, he wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:11-12:  "The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. ¹² And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh."  The words we speak make a difference in the lives of others for good when we are led by the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ who is wisdom for us.  Many people who will not consider listening to a sermon or reading a book by a Christian author (much less the Bible itself!) can be impacted by godly, wise speech.  At times it seems pastors or professors are not seen to be worth their salt unless they have written at least one acclaimed book, but Solomon pointed out how there is no end to making books.  The implication is books, however insightful and useful, have a limit of effect and impact which demands another.  There will never be a timeless, foundational, definitive book like the Bible ever written by men because it has been authored by God.

One way we can be effective in communicating Gospel truth is through the use of illustrations.  A well-directed story can breathe fresh attentiveness to a sleepy congregation.  Anecdotes can quicken thinking and help bring a key point to later remembrance.  Solomon's comparison of truth being well-driven nails fits well with a discourse C.H. Spurgeon gave during a lecture:

Mr. Betram aptly illustrates the way in which men are engrossed in worldly cares by telling the story of the captain of a whaling ship, whom he tried to interest in the things of God, and who said, "It is not use, sir; your conversation will not have any effect upon me.  I cannot hear what you are saying, or understand the subject you are talking about.  I left my home to try to catch whales.  I have been a year and nine months looking for whales, sir, and I have not caught a whale yet.  I have been ploughing the deep in search of whales; when I go to bed, I dream of whales; and when I get up in the morning, I wonder if there will be any whales caught that day; there is a whale in my heart, sir, a whale in my brain, and it is of no use for you to talk to me about anything else but whales."  So your people have their business in their heads, and in their hearts, they want to make a fortune, and retire; or else they have a family of children to bring up, and Susan must be married, and John must be got into a situation, and it is no use for you to talk to them about the things of God unless you can drive away the whales that keep floundering and splashing about.

There is a merchant, perhaps, who has just thought of some bad bill; or another has looked across the building, and noticed a piece of ribbon of a particular colour, and he thinks, "Yes, I ought to have had a larger stock of that kind of thing.  I see that it is getting fashionable!" or it may be that one of the hearers has caught sight of his neighbor, and he thinks he must pay him a visit on the morrow; and so people's thoughts are occupied with all sorts of subjects beside that of which the preacher is speaking.  You ask me how I know that this is the case.  Well, I know because I have been guilty of the same offence myself; I find this occurs when I am listening to another brother preaching.  I do not think, when I am preaching, that I get on very well; but sometimes, when I go into the country, and take the morning and evening services, and then hear some one else in the afternoon, I think, "Well, really, when I was up there, I thought I was a stick:  but now!  I only wish I had my turn again!"  Now this is very wrong, to let such thoughts come into our minds; but as we are all very apt to wander, the preacher should carry anecdotes and illustrations into the pulpit, and use them as nails to fasten the people's attention to the subject of his sermon. 

Mr. Paxton Hood once said, in a lecture that I heard him deliver, "Some preachers expect too much of their hearers; they take a number of truths into the pulpit as a man might carry up a box of nails; and then, supposing the congregation to be posts, they take out a nail, and expect it to get into the post by itself.  Now that is not the way to do it.  You must take your nail, hold it up against the post, hammer it in, and then clinch it on the other side; and then it is that you may expect the great Master of assemblies to fasted the nails so that they will not fall out."  We must try thus to get the truth into the people, for it will never get in of itself; and we must remember that the hearts of our hearers are not open, like a church door, so that the truth may go in, and take its place, and sit upon its throne to be worshipped there.  No, we have often to break open the doors with great effort, and to thrust the truth into places where it will not be at first a welcome guest, but where, afterwards, the better it is known, the more it will be loved. (Spurgeon, C. H. Lectures to My Students: Complete & Unabridged. Ministry Resources Library, Zondervan Publishing House, 1989.pages 395-396)

I am most grateful for the Bible and many useful books I have read by those who hold to and proclaim the wisdom and truth of God.  I am greatly indebted to authors who toiled with quill by candlelight to produce great volumes teaching and expounding upon the grace and goodness of God.  The insight and impetus to settle on a particular subject to write a book may never come to me, but I can labour to be a better communicator of God's wisdom in speaking in whatever occasions I converse.  I am aware I can hammer away with the best illustrations and achieve nothing without complete reliance upon the Holy Spirit who makes our efforts fruitful.  Praise the LORD He is the Good Shepherd who has the nails and is able, despite my poor aim and weakness, to drive them home.

Blessing Revealed

"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."

Deuteronomy 29:29

This verse ministered to my heart this morning as I considered it.  The first thing to be observed is there are secret things only God knows.  I can often be troubled by what I do not know, and it is possible the thing I desire to know will remain secret and unknown to me because it is only God's to know.  Since the LORD knows all things, nothing is hidden or a secret to Him.  Because He is the almighty, supreme God and is good, I can rest comfortably though secrets are kept from me.

The second point which struck me is my LORD and Creator has chosen to reveal Himself and His wisdom to me.  God delights to reveal Himself to the soul who seeks and trusts Him, and the revelations of God are to be passed on to our children.  God directed His people to teach their children of Him and His statutes throughout the day so they might fear God and keep His commandments.  Because of the new covenant provided by the blood of Jesus, Jew and Gentile are given the right to become sons of God who believe on His name.  It is a spiritual birth by faith in Jesus which enables us to be adopted as God's children to whom He reveals Himself by the power of the Holy Spirit.  The things He has taught us we and our children are to observe and obey.

The final point is a glorious one as it points to the eternal, immutable nature of God and the everlasting life He gives us through the Gospel:  the things God has revealed "belong to us and to our children forever."  We are the eternal inheritance and precious possession of God who has purchased us with His own blood, and we will live with Him forever in glory.  Seeking God and heeding His word is not a burdensome obligation but a joyful duty borne out of His great love for us.  Our love is limited and has an end, but God's love is active and eternal.  Now and forever our relationship to God is not "I guess I have to" but "He loves me."  The Bible makes no secret how blessed are all those who walk in the revealed will of God!

In Everything Give Thanks

The start of a new year is an exciting time of looking gladly towards the future.  Perhaps of all the years of my life I have never seen a "year" cop more hate than 2020.  I have seen countless memes and references of 2020 that paint those 365 days in a negative light.  I am reminded of a song I sang often growing up taken from Psalm 118:24:  "This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  If we acknowledge each day we are given on earth is a gift received from our good God, how can we say 365 of them in a row are bad?  2020 was an awesome year because we have an awesome God, and should we live to see one day in 2021 we have been granted a blessing beyond what we deserve.

What I love about the song taken from Psalm 118 is the context of the Messiah God would send who would suffer and die for sinners.  Hebrews 12:2 says Jesus for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.  Jesus rejoiced, not in the brutality of His tormentors, but in the salvation God would provide through it.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  It is God's will we would rejoice always, even when we are having a tough day or difficult year.  Verse 18 says, "in everything give thanks."  In every situation, in every season of life, in everything it is most appropriate to give thanks because God remains glorious and good.  Faith in God makes this possible.

It may be a person could be moved to give thanks for COVID or being out of a job, yet giving thanks in everything is a way to walk by faith in God today.  When it hurts, when we cannot make sense of the world, when we feel oppressed, confused and crushed, in everything we give thanks because God remains for us and nothing can separate us from His love.  Because God is infinite in goodness and glory there are innumerable things to give thanks for continuously.  A day ticking over on the calendar is not going to fix our problems or change the world for good:  this is a false hope, fleeting romanticism, and misguided folly.  Each day and each year can be better and better as we grow in faith of our sovereign God who is good, despite our bodies breaking down with tribulations all around.  May God open our eyes to see Him and our mouths to praise Him for His goodness to us regardless of the trials we face.

When Jesus went knowing He would be crucified, He rejoiced and was glad in the day the LORD had made:  a day of salvation, redemption, a day to set captives free from sin and save souls forever.  In everything He gave thanks because this was the will of God for Him and us.  This is not the "power of positive thinking" but the walk of faith by God's grace as we embrace His peace that passes understanding.  We can choose to turn to Jesus today and in everything give thanks.  If we will do this, what a year 2021 will be!