Do you consider yourself to be relatively smart , knowledgeable, in the know, or even wise and superior to others? Or have you learned from experience that you only thought you had it figured out?

Being taught by the Spirit

Yesterday at Bible study our group of ladies, composed mostly of homeschool moms/teachers and former school teachers who love learning and Jesus, had a lively discussion, as usual, about the scriptures from our study for the week. It’s hard to explain the magic that happens as the Holy Spirit enlightens us and moves us to speak about things we never thought of before that moment! Other believers understand that when you seek the Lord with sincere humble faith , the Spirit , at the right time, helps you understand the meaning of the scriptures that you had previously barely noticed.

There’s nothing like the experience of being taught by the Spirit. When it happens you can’t help but wonder what else you might have missed and feel grateful and humble, and want more. Some denominations downplay the importance of the Spirit and teach that everything you need to know is in the written word. And it is. But…

1 Corinthians 2:10-16

[10] these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. [11] For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. [12] Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. [13] And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

[14] The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. [15] The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. [16] “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Learning to be wise

Therefore we study the word of God expecting the Spirit to teach us. And yesterday I began to understand that being wise starts with being vulnerable.

We were studying Matthew chapter 11. In it we find that some people reacted positively to Jesus while others were offended by his words as he preached a gospel of repentance that stepped on the toes of the hypocritical religious elites. Others were curious but too busy with their lives to take his message seriously. But the downtrodden and sick and outcasts who were vulnerable heard him eagerly. Those who knew the prophecies and were looking for the Messiah were eager for Jesus to become King. Many were excited by the miracles Jesus did, but most didn’t grasp his message of the kingdom of Heaven . The wisdom of the world, and its values, priorities and traditions, kept them focused on their own physical needs and interests. They thought this was the wise thing to do to stay safe and secure.

This is understandable given the harsh realities of life in those days. Yet , even in our comfortable modern world, and even when we believe that Jesus is the son of God, the world attracts our attention even when we would rather sit at His feet. It’s hard to live by such countercultural principles . But Jesus promises that if we seek the kingdom and his righteousness first, he will take care of our other needs and our true security . The whole point of Jesus’ message is that the wisdom and principles of this world lead to death. He is the way, the truth and the life for those who believe in him.

The Bible is a supernatural, living book when combined with true faith in its author and its authority.

Why do some people read the Bible and then say it did nothing for them? Because they don’t have “eyes to see”. The eyes we need to see the truth are actually in our hearts. God doesn’t reveal anything to those people because He knows their hearts are closed or prideful. Instead the mysteries are revealed to the “little children”, as Jesus called the people who were not blinded by worldly wisdom.

In other words, the people can’t see God because they are “too smart” , in their own minds, that is. Those who are “smart” enough to know that they don’t know it all and can look around at the intricacies of creation and have no doubt that “someone or something” other than chance designed this world will not be blinded by “scientific” pride that claims man can know it all by own efforts.

See this article shared by Roughly Daily on the subject of mysteries of the universe. “I was conscious that I knew practically nothing”*…

Let’s find out what the Bible has to say about wisdom versus being “wise”. See if you can understand the difference. Pray and ask God to show you if you are blind .

We start in Genesis where we find Satan tempting Eve with “knowledge” , which turns out to be deadly.

Genesis 3:1-6

The Fall

[1] Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made.

He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” [2] And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, [3] but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” [4] But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. [5] For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” [6] So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Of course we know that after she became “wise” , she also died , as all humans now do and as certain people are trying to find a way to avoid.

From this point on, man has struggled to be wise apart from God’ by trying to make “knowing things” his god. Instead of leading us to glorify the God who created all things as we admire and learn about his handiwork , as the first scientists and “wise men” did, modern science teaches that there is no god other than our own minds, and eventually AI, of course. These “brilliant minds” who deny God will never understand the things that “little children” can comprehend because they are blinded by pride.

Study the following verses . What is Jesus saying about the wise here?

Isaiah 29:13-14[13] And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, [14] therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”

Luke 10:21-24

Jesus Rejoices in the Father’s Will

[21] In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. [22] All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

[23] Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! [24] For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

I share the whole chapter below because it’s so timely and helps us understand today’s culture. Read it carefully. Look at how pride blinds us to the truth!

Romans 1:18-32

God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness

[18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. [21] For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

[24] Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, [25] because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

[26] For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; [27] and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

[28] And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. [29] They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, [30] slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, [31] foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. [32] Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

If those verses describe you, confess your sins, throw yourself at God’s mercy and he will forgive you because he knows your weakness. When you admit you need Him, you become wise. But if you don’t think you need God or you think God is passive or under your control , you’re a fool.

But before I go, I want to address the phrase “little children” that Jesus used in Matthew 11:21 . He wasn’t referring to actual children. He’s describing people who are able to let go of worldly understanding and see beyond this physical world into the supernatural realm with open and trusting eyes like a child and take his hand and go with him, believing that he is trustworthy and good and that he is willing and able to save them from their sins . This can be a hard concept for adults who have been hurt by parents. But Jesus is not like human parents , he is gentle and kind and protective of his children, like a good shepherd. Will you trust him today ?

Resources From ChatGPT. (I use ChatGPT to save time typing. Copy and paste!.)

Here are some examples of “wisdom of this world” that contradicts biblical teaching:

1. “Follow your heart”

• Worldly Wisdom: Emphasizes following one’s desires or emotions as the ultimate guide for decision-making.

• Biblical Wisdom: The Bible warns that the heart is deceitful and cannot always be trusted.

• Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”

2. “Do whatever makes you happy”

• Worldly Wisdom: Happiness is often elevated as the highest goal in life.

• Biblical Wisdom: The Bible calls for pursuing holiness and obedience to God rather than seeking fleeting personal happiness.

• Matthew 6:33: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

3. “You only live once (YOLO)”

• Worldly Wisdom: Encourages reckless living or indulgence because life is short.

• Biblical Wisdom: The Bible teaches that life is eternal and we should live with eternity in mind.

• Hebrews 9:27: “It is appointed for men to die once, and after this comes judgment.”

4. “Look out for number one”

• Worldly Wisdom: Promotes self-centeredness and prioritizing one’s own interests above others.

• Biblical Wisdom: The Bible calls for selflessness and putting others first.

• Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

5. “The end justifies the means”

• Worldly Wisdom: Suggests that achieving a goal is more important than the morality of how it is achieved.

• Biblical Wisdom: The Bible emphasizes righteousness and integrity, regardless of the outcome.

• Proverbs 21:3: “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”

6. “Truth is relative”

• Worldly Wisdom: Claims there is no absolute truth; truth is subjective and based on personal perspective.

• Biblical Wisdom: The Bible declares that truth is absolute and found in God’s Word.

• John 17:17: “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

7. “You can achieve anything if you believe in yourself”

• Worldly Wisdom: Centers human achievement and self-reliance.

• Biblical Wisdom: Acknowledges that human strength is limited, and dependence on God is essential.

• Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

8. “Success is measured by wealth, status, or power”

• Worldly Wisdom: Equates success with material possessions and social standing.

• Biblical Wisdom: True success is found in obedience to God and faithfulness to Him.

• Mark 8:36: “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”

9. “Live your truth”

• Worldly Wisdom: Encourages individuals to define their own truth and morality.

• Biblical Wisdom: God’s truth is the only truth that matters, and humans are accountable to it.

• John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

10. “Peace comes through tolerance of all beliefs”

• Worldly Wisdom: Suggests that peace requires embracing all views as equally valid.

• Biblical Wisdom: True peace comes from faith in Christ, not from compromising God’s truth.

• John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

These examples highlight the contrast between worldly ideologies and biblical principles, emphasizing the need to ground one’s perspective in God’s Word.