The Bible makes it abundantly clear that the author of all truth is God. Paul in chapter two is dealing with the issue of truth and wisdom. Specifically he deals with types of wisdom and who can understand God’s wisdom.
First, beginning in verse six Paul tells the church at Corinth that true wisdom isn’t human wisdom. In our culture today, we seem to elevate people and call them “gurus” if they are able to come up with something that amazes us. While discovery is amazing, it should amaze us even more that even though we are just learning it, God already knew it. He is the one that made it discoverable for us. Paul says that he doesn’t want to give the Corinthians his wisdom, but rather he wants to share God’s wisdom with them. Paul began talking about godly wisdom in 1 Corinthians 1:18. In context we see that the wisdom of God was to send Jesus into the world to die for sinful mankind. We see that God’s wisdom confounds even the wisest of people. In verse 7 Paul mentions the “hidden wisdom.” Paul wants the Corinthians to know and us to know that there are simply some things that we are not going to know. However, just because we don’t know it, doesn’t mean that it is unknown. The “hidden wisdom” is first mentioned in Deuteronomy 29:29, “The secret things belong unto the Lord.” We see it talked about in Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My way, saith the Lord.” Many people find this very frustrating, the fact that they can’t figure out life or the fact that there are things that happen that simply don’t make any sense. Many times in church circles when these events occur in our life, we say to just trust God and the fact that He knows what He is doing. Sometimes I wonder if we really mean many of the things we say, or if we say them because that is what we think we are supposed to say (that’s a whole other post at a later time). Two things come to my mind concerning the “hidden wisdom” of God. First, there is a God and I am not Him, so I don’t have to know everything. Secondly, I’m glad that I can’t figure out God, because if I could figure Him out, why would I need Him? When the unexpected happens we must remember that God is in control, that He does have a plan, and we must choose to praise Him, even when it is hard to see Him.
Towards the end of the chapter, Paul switches gears a little. He goes from talking about man’s wisdom versus God’s wisdom to talking about who can understand God’s wisdom. Time and time again I have to remind myself, I can’t expect the lost to act like the saved. I catch myself thinking or saying, “don’t you know how bad of a choice that is and that this is not what God desires for you.” But then I have to remind myself, they don’t have a relationship with God yet. In verses 13-14 we see two truths. First, if I am going to learn the Bible, I am going to have to be Spirit taught. Anything I learn about God’s Word is because God’s Spirit is teaching it to me. This helps keep me humble and to fulfill 1 Corinthians 1:31, “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” Secondly, spiritual truths are foolishness to the lost. The natural man is a reference to a person who has never trusted Jesus as their Savior and Lord. They are still in the same state they were born in, lost. Again, we cannot expect the lost to act like the saved. The answer to man’s problems is not more programs, it is the Gospel. Once a person is saved, the Holy Spirit begins the process of transformation in which based upon God giving them a new heart, they have a renewed mind, and live a renewed life. The old things will not attract them as much anymore, rather they will want to please God. None of this can happen without the person first being born-again (John 3:3).
So as this devotion closes, let me challenge all of us. First, be patient with the lost, they are only doing what comes natural to them, the same way you and I did before Christ saved us and began to transform us. If you want lasting change in someone, they need a new heart and a renewed mind, nothing less will do. Secondly, pray and ask God to give you faith to be okay with the things in life you may not understand or may not know. Profess your trust in Him that even though you can’t see the single tree for the forest, He does and He will walk with you through it.
By His grace and through His strength may we live for Him