Wisdom: True and False
- jacarroll71
- Sep 19, 2015
- 2 min read
One must beware of the distinction between deception which passes as true wisdom and true wisdom which can be imperceptible and overlooked.
Today’s reading: Ecclesiastes 7-9; 2 Corinthians 11:1-15
16 But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard. Ecclesiastes 9:16
2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2-3
Solomon in reflecting on how wisdom works in the real world relates a story of a small city that was attacked by a great army. Through the wisdom of an anonymous resident of the city, a poor man, the city overcame the attack. It is not hard to imagine the great party that the people held. But did they honor their benefactor? Did they erect a monument to the hero? No! He was forgotten. The presumptuous populace didn’t bother to find out his identity or didn’t care about the poor, wise man. We are not told how the wise man responded to the slight, but if he was wise enough to create such a successful strategy for victory in war, he was probably wise enough to forgive the colossal oversight and trust God for ultimate recognition. The city fathers should be faulted for their failure to recognize the presence of greatness in their midst.
The members of the church in the ancient city of Corinth, on the other hand, did recognize and honor deceivers in their midst. The false teachers that had come to them were attempting to draw them away from “a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” They impressed the Corinthians who failed to see them for what they were, emissaries of Satan, the one who “disguises himself as an angel of light” (vs. 11). Foolishness never shows its hand. Satan never comes as a horned creature, dressed in red pajamas and carrying a pitch fork. He comes showing what seems to be superior knowledge and wisdom.
Make it your aim to be well-informed of biblical truth so that you are never drawn away from love for Jesus Christ, the Man who by His eternal wisdom delivered the city of His people from the imposing army of the evil one. Reject all counterfeit messengers and their phony gospel. Distinguish true wisdom from false. Things are not always the way they seem.
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