Wisdom Comes Only by Doing God’s Will

Wisdom Comes Only by Doing God’s Will

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant . . . .” “For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit . . . .”

“That you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . .” 1 Cor. 1:5-7.

These were spiritual gifts; gifts the Corinthians had received by God’s grace. Thus one could believe that they were also spiritual. Since they also had received the word of wisdom, one could believe that they were also wise. Nevertheless from the letter to the Corinthians we learn that it can be the complete opposite. “And I brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.” “Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one . . . ?” 1 Cor. 6:5.

When it came to doing it, it became evident that they did not know how to apply the wisdom and the knowledge they so clearly and convincingly spoke about. Therefore Paul had to ask them again, “Do you not know?” “Do you not know?” When it came to doing it, it was as if they didn’t know anything at all of the wisdom and knowledge they spoke about so convincingly and gloriously. Ch. 6. One can ask: Is this really possible? Yes, we learn it clearly from these two epistles to the Corinthians; it is also something that has been witnessed throughout time, and many people have been deceived by it.

“Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.” And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.” 1 Cor. 8:1-2.

From the above we gather that the Corinthians were puffed up because of their gifts, thinking they were “someone,” yet at the same time they had come out of love, so they could not edify each other. We read further, in Chapter 13, that love alone makes the gifts valuable. In this chapter we read what love is. It knows how to apply the word of wisdom and of knowledge. It is only by doing it that we gain wisdom.

We read that “Jesus began both to do and teach.” Acts 1:1. “To do” is written first. We also read, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” He kept on doing what is written in the volume of the book, beginning to teach only after He was about 30 years old. Heb. 10:5-7.

Those who are spiritual can hear the difference among those who speak, whether the words of wisdom and knowledge they bring are only a gift or whether it is their life. Carnal people admire the gifts and are deceived by grand sermons. This was the state of affairs among the Corinthians. They looked at things “according to the outward appearance” and had no sense for noticing the life. They didn’t realize that Paul, when he was present with them, lived in reality what he wrote in his weighty letters. Therefore they considered his physical presence, as well as his speech, as nothing. Paul did not want anyone to think of him more highly than what they saw or heard from him. 2 Cor. 12:6. Here we see that Paul says “see” first. “Seeing” has to do with life. Our life has to precede our words.

Few people are sufficiently spiritual to be able to discern this. 1 Cor. 2:15-16. Only those who are interested in life, in “doing,” can become spiritual. It is good that there are some people in the church who are growing up and becoming spiritual, who let the light shine, so that those who are upright are not deceived. The new thing that Jesus introduced was to do God’s will. Heb. 10:9. That gives us wisdom so we can abide in love and edify one another. In order to do this, we need Paul’s powerful exhortation: “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.” 1 Tim. 4:12-16.