The Poisons of Worldly Wisdom

It is so easy to be worldly-wise even when our words are pure Gospel. When our skills are honed by the flesh, and we learn the great methods that capture men, we quickly become dependent on those skills. The Spirit of our God is so sensitive to our spirit that the moment we depend on anything but Him, He withdraws to let us flounder in our weakness. The Word teaches us by declaring, “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” (1 Corinthians 3:18) A statement such as this is soundly rejected by the academic world and the great majority of today’s religious leaders. The church world is a mammoth system that depends almost exclusively on worldly wisdom. Because of this, there are as many abortions, divorces, and other major sins in the church as in the world.

This passage of Scripture straight out of God’s heart continues, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours.” (1 Corinthians 3:19-21) The Word of God is sheer dynamite unless we try to add the luster of the world. We do not need to withdraw from the system that is worldly-wise, but rather walk in the midst of the highest of the brightest. We must do so completely dependent on God’s wisdom alone. The Psalmist David, full of the wisdom of God, declared, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.” (Psalm 1:1a) Do not let yourself be intrigued by the mighty nor allow their great words to deceive you. Their words may sound like wisdom incarnate, but it is all perception. The only true wisdom is from God.

Whatever of this world that you have learned bring it to God’s altar and remain there until you discern that which conflicts with the Word of God and walk away from it to lean on God alone. Do not become a smart aleck in your new-found wisdom, but become “…all things to all men, that I [we] might by all means save some.” (Emphasis added) (1 Corinthians 9:22b) Paul said, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.” (Romans 1:14) He further said, “And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.” (1 Corinthians 9:20-21) These lessons are from one of the greatest teachers of truth of all times.

Scripture teaches, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” (Psalm 37:23) Go back to that first passage that warned us of worldly wisdom. His promise to the person that rejects the wisdom of the world is overwhelming. Listen! “…For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” (1 Corinthians 3:21b-23) Note that he said, “All things are yours, life, death, things present, things to come, all are yours.” Open wide your mind, soul, and spirit to God and let him lead you into all truth. The greats of the Bible and church history are just such men and women to whom God was given full control.

The world’s wisdom is quickly proving itself foolishness. The total world system, apart from the infallible Word of God, is rising to a crescendo of collapse. The signs of destruction are evidenced in every worldly system, and it will shortly begin its free fall. Presently, there is a contest developing between God’s great truth and all it represents and the world’s schemes and plans. Daniel described the end of everything not of God. “Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.” (Daniel 2:34-35)

You cannot mix the pure words and wisdom of God with the impure wisdom of the world. But you can allow His truth and His wisdom to order your steps right in the midst of the foolishness of men. Truth will triumph every time that God has a vessel where there is no compromise.