Not the Fashionable Wisdom

Scripture: We, of course, have plenty of wisdom to pass on to you once you get your feet on firm spiritual ground, but it’s not popular wisdom, the fashionable wisdom of high-priced experts that will be out-of-date in a year or so. God’s wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don’t find it lying around on the surface. It’s not the latest message, but more like the oldest—what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. 1 Corinthians 2:6-7

Observation: As Paul has done a couple times, he discusses the idea that the wisdom of the Lord is a mystery, though that mystery has been revealed by the Lord himself through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. That said, the Lord's wisdom is unknown if one is not in connection with the Lord. For this reason, the wisdom is not common to the world, and it is not at all aligned to popular opinion. It is not "the latest message" and it isn't "lying around on the surface" of popular culture, easy to find. It absolutely is not new-age thinking, but is the oldest of all wisdom, determined effectively as part of creation itself.

Of course, Paul also has an important caveat to anyone who would seek such wisdom. It is available "once you get your feet on firm spiritual ground." Again, to understand the true wisdom that defines the best way to live one's life, you must first ... have a relationship with the Lord, Yahweh, God almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Application: I began to write my reaction to this, and was just now surprised by what that reaction was. I find I am sincerely glad for terms like "post-modern" and "enlightened" and "progressive" and "new-age" and "post-Christian" ... terms that are used throughout the world today to describe some new philosophy, or concepts, or moral code, or way of living. I am downright happy for the existence of such terms, because by their own use and existence they openly declare that these concepts are NOT in any way aligned to the purposes and wisdom of the Lord.

Society has openly declared that its ideals have moved beyond any 'old' way of living. The full trinity - Lord God the father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit - tell those of us of faith that proper, life-giving wisdom is old, unchanging, and the best. We, therefore, don't need to have any confusion about if the emerging 'wisdom' of this age is well-aligned to the Lord's wisdom ... this very age openly and actively declares that it is not.

Prayer: Praise, all praise, to the Lord! You, Lord, are the source of truth and of wisdom and of knowledge. May I seek your wisdom only, and not the popular or fashionable wisdom. Yes, your wisdom is founded in love, secured by your truth, and defined by your word. Every day, may I dive below the surface and into the mystery of your word, and find there your wisdom. Amen.