Human Wisdom vs. God's Wisdom

“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him,

God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.”

-1 Corinthians 1:21

                Bill Nye ‘The Science Guy’ recently spoke out against people who deny evolution. He said that denying it harms young people and that, with a large amount of Americans not believing in evolution, scientific progress is being hindered. He compared not believing in evolution to studying geology without believing in tectonic plates. This comparison is not a good one. Science can exist without the idea of evolution because the main focus of science is to study how things happen. According to Nye, our world is a boring mystery if we believe in creation. He says that with the belief of creation our world is complicated and our views are crazy, untenable, and inconsistent. He urges parents not to teach kids that evolution is false and that the belief of creation will soon cease to exist because there is no evidence. This last statement is far from conceivable. For the Bible says that God will not let that happen.

“By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness

a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every

tongue shall swear allegiance.”

-Isaiah 45:23

                People like Bill Nye have not yet experienced the grace of God. If they did, they would not rely on mere human knowledge but learn to obtain knowledge from the Spirit. In this, it is not just knowledge but rather it is wisdom. Wisdom comes from maturity and experiences. We should not condemn people like Bill Nye, but rather pray for them that they would come to understand God and receive Christ as their savior.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,

but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written:

‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not

God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”

-1 Corinthians 1:18-20

                Human wisdom is meaningless. In Ecclesiastes, the Teacher states that he studied and explored everything done under heaven, but it was a heavy burden. Ecclesiastes 1:18 then goes to say, “For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.” With faith comes joy, and if man had the full extent of God’s knowledge, we would not be happy.

                Some people use the fact that God does not give us infinite wisdom to support their beliefs that aliens exist (which can be proven false just by looking at the creation story) or other questionable ideas such as evolution. However, the Bible declares that all information that God deems important for us to know, will be revealed to us. If we read the Scripture, we will gain a portion of God’s knowledge. Sure, there are things that we will not know, because God knows it is unimportant that we know them. They are things that we should have complete faith in, things like God exists. How does God exist if there was none before Him? That is unimportant. That is when we need to have unwavering faith.

“We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom

of this ago or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that

God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age

understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified

the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no

ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’

but God has revealed it to us by his spirit.”

-1 Corinthians 2:6-10

Blessings: Are You Always Blessed?

“So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”

-Galatians 3:9

                There are many Christians who believe that we are not always blessed. They think of material things, hardships, promotions, and other things that aren’t important. You never see a hearse with a U-Haul truck being towed behind to bring all of the earthly possessions to the grave. They are useless and will not last forever like the gifts that God promises us in the Bible. The ancient Egyptians believed that placing perishable items in the pyramid tombs would sustain the dead in the after-life. But what they failed to realize was that these things would not carry over and God is the ultimate provider beyond our needs. What does it mean, from a biblical perspective, to be blessed?

                A blessing is a statement of good will and happiness that is said about another, as well as the condition that fulfills those good words. God's original design in creation was for His creatures, including mankind, to experience prosperity, peace, and fulfillment (Genesis 1:28), but that design was ruined when sin entered the world through one man, Adam. Statements of blessing are a wish for God to restore His favor on others or a declaration of His inherent goodness. The ultimate blessing that God has given is the new life and forgiveness that comes through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. The material blessings we enjoy from day to day are temporary, but the spiritual blessings available to us in Christ encompass time and eternity, as well as material and immaterial things.

                We are ALWAYS blessed according to scripture if we follow God’s commands and laws and have faith. We are only cursed if we turn from Him and do not repent. We have the promise of new life and a place in Heaven. That is a blessing in itself. What else is blessing? He sends His angels to protect us, provides for us in tough financial times, guides our walk so that we may walk the path that leads to Him, gives us the desires of our hearts if He sees it fit, and pours down His grace upon us.

               Blessings can come in many forms. They aren't always material benefits, but can be things like knowledge and wisdom, as stated in Ecclesiastes. Things can blessed too, like food. But it's not just food that can be blessed. A day can be blessed too. Genesis 2:3 says that on the seventh day of creation, "He blessed the seventh day.." Animals can be blessed. When He was creating the world, "God created great sea creatures, and every sort of fish and every kind of bird. And God looked at the m with pleasure, and blessed them all..." (Genesis 1:22)

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and

insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.”

-Luke 6:20-22

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the

way of the sinners or in the seat of mockers.”

-Psalm 1:1

“He replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

-Luke 11:28

“Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways.”

-Psalm 128:1

                There is so much Scripture about blessings but not one says that we are only blessed at certain moments. Even when we are facing hardship, He says that we are blessed. His promise of new life should be enough for us and His grace will help us out of any situation. Optimism is key. Nothing in life is easy, so make the best of it and don’t dwell on the negatives. You are your own stress, your own anger, your own sadness, your own frustration. When you realize that you are eternally blessed because of God, you will learn to have a positive outlook on life-the outlook that God wants you to have. There is a purpose for your life, and God not only wants to bless you but He also wants to use you to bless others. A blessing is a way for God to work through someone. In Ephesians 3:20, it says that God can do more amazing things than anyone can hope to do on their own. This is part of what a blessing is. Though someone can pray for a blessing, that doesn't mean they will receive it. James 1:17 states, "Every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven; it comes down from God..." If someone isn't ready for the situation involving the blessing they pray for, they will not receive it. God can do the impossible (2 Kings 4:1-7).

                What is given to you is also based upon your heart and what God sees when He looks at it.

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken

together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For

with what measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

-Luke 6:38

                What we understand as a blessing is only a very small understanding of what God has ready for his people. Isaiah 64:4 states, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

                Every day may not be good, but there is good in every day.

“Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.”

-Psalm 21:6

Love

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

-1 Corinthians 13:13

                Lately I’ve been talking a lot about faith. But, just as faith is important, so is love. Faith works through love and that is more important than the law (Galatians 5:5-6). With faith comes true love; not the mere mortal kind but the kind that comes from God. The kind that is willing to make sacrifices, has understanding, and is patient. The love that is humble and not selfish. The love that will do anything to protect and will persevere through hardship.

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And

we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

-1 John 3:16

                God IS love. He set for us an example of what our love should be like. If we do not love God, than we do not know true love. God dwells in those who love and makes them complete. There is no fear in love; rather perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with negative consequences. You cannot claim to love God but then hate someone. How can you not love someone whom you can see but then claim to love what you cannot see? (1 John 4) God loves us so much that He sent His one and only Son so that He may set us free and dwell among us in the New Heaven.

“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.”

-Proverbs 27:5

                Love is so important that the Law can be based upon two commandments: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself. With love for God comes our faith and trust. With it comes dependence on Him and true repentance. Our love cannot be mere words and talk but must be shown in truth and action (1 John 3:18).

“This love I speak of means that we must live in obedience to God’s commands.

The command, as you have all heard from the beginning, is that you must all live in love.”

-2 John 6