Pursuing wisdom...or not?
This is really interesting one... is it good to be wise?!
Jesus said: “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure." So no... Foolishness is better.
Why would God rejoice that wise and learned people cant know him?!
Was reading some John Piper last night, and i think he had the answer when he was going on about the fact that if we could know God through our wisdom then we would have been able to bridge the gap between man and God, the gap between finite and infinite, between sin and holiness. Why does God not want this?
I'm convinced that God is primarily concerned about his glory. That it is not egotistical, because he would be suffering from false humility if he wasn't! How do we know God and therefore glorify him for who he is? Through the person of the Lord Jesus... and we can know him only as Lord and saviour.
By God providing Jesus' sacrifice as our way of knowing him he provided a perfect insight into his character for us to marvel at and worship. He is most glorified when we are most satisfied in him... we are most satisfied in him when we see him as he is. On the cross Jesus revealed to us the character of God in a superb way that will remain unsurpassed. One who is just and merciful, jealous and loving, intimate and transcendent, holy and not unaffected by our sin. Everything ungodly is defeated in the light of the cross...everything finds its fulfilment here.
We look at the cross and see this victory over sin, death, and evil... and marvel at the wisdom and power of God. The Greeks (intellectuals) look at the cross, and see the foolishness of the apparent injustice, lovelessness and separation. The jews are stuck when their messiah is killed because he can no longer lead the physical nation.
This is the secret wisdom that Paul goes on to talk about... the wisdom that is impossible apart from the Spirit. The wisdom that is impossible apart from knowing and fearing God because we recognise our foolishness. In fact the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy on eis understanding. Right at the beginning of proverbs this is outlined at a true understanding of wisdom, the benefits of this wisdom are immense.
Yes - pursuing wisdom is of great value, just make sure you're looking in the right places. True wisdom is found in recognising the position of importance that God holds over the universe, and our place in the jigsaw!
Jesus said: “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure." So no... Foolishness is better.
Why would God rejoice that wise and learned people cant know him?!
Was reading some John Piper last night, and i think he had the answer when he was going on about the fact that if we could know God through our wisdom then we would have been able to bridge the gap between man and God, the gap between finite and infinite, between sin and holiness. Why does God not want this?
I'm convinced that God is primarily concerned about his glory. That it is not egotistical, because he would be suffering from false humility if he wasn't! How do we know God and therefore glorify him for who he is? Through the person of the Lord Jesus... and we can know him only as Lord and saviour.
By God providing Jesus' sacrifice as our way of knowing him he provided a perfect insight into his character for us to marvel at and worship. He is most glorified when we are most satisfied in him... we are most satisfied in him when we see him as he is. On the cross Jesus revealed to us the character of God in a superb way that will remain unsurpassed. One who is just and merciful, jealous and loving, intimate and transcendent, holy and not unaffected by our sin. Everything ungodly is defeated in the light of the cross...everything finds its fulfilment here.
We look at the cross and see this victory over sin, death, and evil... and marvel at the wisdom and power of God. The Greeks (intellectuals) look at the cross, and see the foolishness of the apparent injustice, lovelessness and separation. The jews are stuck when their messiah is killed because he can no longer lead the physical nation.
This is the secret wisdom that Paul goes on to talk about... the wisdom that is impossible apart from the Spirit. The wisdom that is impossible apart from knowing and fearing God because we recognise our foolishness. In fact the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy on eis understanding. Right at the beginning of proverbs this is outlined at a true understanding of wisdom, the benefits of this wisdom are immense.
Yes - pursuing wisdom is of great value, just make sure you're looking in the right places. True wisdom is found in recognising the position of importance that God holds over the universe, and our place in the jigsaw!
posted by Dan | 7:27 AM
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