We, of course, have plenty of wisdom to pass on to you once you get your feet on firm spiritual ground, but it’s not popular wisdom, the fashionable wisdom of high-priced experts that will be out-of-date in a year or so. God’s wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don’t find it lying around on the surface. It’s not the latest message, but more like the oldest—what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. (I Corinthians 2:6-7 MSG) Wisdom comes in all forms. When I want to make the most of my investments, I don't consult the grocer, I go to my financial adviser because he has studied the various investment strategies and knows how to make the best of them. When I want to understand why my car is making a certain noise, I don't consult the plumber, I go directly to my mechanic who will be able to tell me what causes the noise and how it can be repaired. Why is it we seek wisdom...
You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s sheer genius, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified. (I Corinthians 2:1-2 MSG) We humans like to complicate God's simple message of salvation with a whole lot of religious talk and mumbo-jumbo. The fact of the matter is that Paul came to establish the New Testament churches with two messages: 1) Jesus and who he is; and 2) Jesus and what he did. When you teach those two things, you pretty much have the entirety of scripture rolled up into those messages, don't you? No 'fancy words' or great 'oratorical' messages - just the simplicity of telling us who Jesus is and what he has done. There is wisdom in keeping things simple, isn't there? When we add the complications of this or that regulation, rule, or requirement, we get into the ...