Number 171

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15 

 

The Wisdom from God

By Jack Northart

 

Myths, forgeries, fairy tales, conjectures and interpolations are all words that have been used through the centuries to describe God’s Word. Is it really God’s Word or is it something that was derived from the mind of man? Can it be trusted? Is it just another religious book among many? These and many other questions have been the foundation of mankind’s basic spiritual problem namely, the integrity of God’s Word. Many don’t believe it is God’s Word, hence it is not looked at as a source for life and living. In reality it is the fountainhead for truth and for the answers to life.

 

II Peter 1:3

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

 

Questioning the integrity of God’s Word began back in the Garden of Eden and continues to this day.

 

Genesis 3:1

Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

 

Satan was very much aware of what God had said to them, and through his subtlety he got Eve to question what God had said. Satan does the same thing today. Why trust the Bible when there is so much “scientific evidence” of matters that pertain to life? For the most part, people buy into the propaganda machine that science and the Bible are complete opposites from each other, and that you are either a secularist or you take everything on faith. To the contrary, the Bible and true science complement each other.

 

The problem is that scientific speculation has been confused for true scientific evidence and facts. Scientist are only too aware of who they work for. Those who fund research - whether it is a drug company, a governmental agency or an environmental organization – always have a particular outcome in mind. As a result, a “governmental study,” or “environmental study” is every bit as biased and suspect as any other report in any other field. Yet, these “studies” are given a free pass, and their speculations are considered to be facts. No one questions them as being accurate and true. We assume that they did their homework and so we fail to question and demand proof.

 

So many more true scientific discoveries could be revealed if scientists would take God at His Word from the very beginning, and go from there to research and experiment in different scientific fields. Who knows how many more treasures could be uncovered? God does..

 

Daniel 2:21-22

And he [God] changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

 

There is a challenge to men and women who have a true knowledge of God and His Word, and also have the ability to seek out and explore new and better things. The beginning of inventions starts with someone who asks and works with the one true God. They may not necessarily be the person who is credited with the discovery, but once they share the information with someone else, the cat is out of the bag, and it is up for grabs to anyone who hears about it.

 

Proverbs 8:12

I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

 

The context of this verse is discussing the wisdom of God. Wesley translates this verse: “My inseparable companion is prudence to govern all my actions, and to direct the actions of others. I help men to find out. Of all ingenious contrivances for the glory of God, and for the good of men.”

Our duty then, is to seek the wisdom of God and take its direction.

 

Proverbs 8:10-11

Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

 

Today, a great deal of value is placed on a person’s intellect. The higher his intelligence quotient or IQ, the higher praise, admiration and placement in society he gains. However, our premise from which true judgment is based is the wisdom from God. Without this truth in the mind of any man, regardless of IQ level, the mind will be deceived. Man’s work will ever direct man’s actions and experiences to himself, and for glorying in himself. However, God’s work in a man’s heart will ever glorify Christ.

 

Today, the highest form of knowledge in the world is considered by secularists to be philosophy.  Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as man’s existence, knowledge, language, beauty, justice, validity, mind, and truth. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing these questions by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on reasoned argument. The word philosophy is of Ancient Greek origin: philosophía, meaning "love of knowledge," "love of wisdom."

 

James 3:13-18 (NIV)

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder [confusion] and every evil practice.  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

 

What may seem far fetched and obscure to one man, might make perfect sense to another that has devoted himself to self-discovery through philosophy and science. However, at the end of the day, God’s Word has the final say about man and his reasonings, and all the wisdom that he endeavors to accummulate.

 

Ecclesiastes 1: 17-18 (NIV)

And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; I realized that this also is striving after wind. Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain.

 

Since there is increasing pain in gaining worldly wisdom, to what end should we pursue knowledge and wisdom, and whose knowledge and wisdom should we pursue?

 

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.