Two Kinds of Wisdom (Part 1) 

There are two kinds of wisdom. It is imperative that each of us be clear about this fact. There is the wisdom of God and the wisdom of the world, and we cannot afford to confuse one with the other.

As a young man searching for wisdom, I wanted to know how to live successfully to benefit others. However, in my search, I observed a number of leaders modeling to me something quite different than the wisdom of God. When I was eight years old, my dad abandoned my mom and his five children for another woman. I was the oldest child but had no idea how to help my mom with my three brothers and sister. Then I discovered that two different men attempted to have a romantic relationship with my mom while I was a teenager. And each of them was married! I also heard an adult family member, who I looked up to, and who had spent quality time with me and my siblings, speak of the opposite sex in demeaning and crude ways. He also cut off one of his close relatives for over a year because he didn’t agree with some decision they made. And later, I even overheard him talking about being involved with underhanded business practices. What a disappointment! Another relative of mine—though kind, generous, and gracious to me—had a very quick temper. He often burst out in anger toward his family for little or no reason. This kept his family living in constant fear of him and caused some serious confusion for me. I was looking for someone in my life who modeled the wisdom of God, but most of what I experienced was not godly.

At least three passages of Scripture reference a distinction between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of the world. Let’s look at the first passage found in First Corinthians 1:

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, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom, did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Corinthians 1:18-25).

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God” (Psalm 53:1).

By comparing these two passages, we can understand why the wisdom of the world is so dangerous. It is deceptive. It sounds good, but it results in death. I was looking for wisdom as a young boy and teenager, but what I found did not manifest or reveal God to me at all. It was the wisdom of this world.

First Corinthians 1 reveals two primary enemies to the message of the cross and the wisdom of God:

• Jews – self-righteous Pharisees
• Greeks – all-knowing philosophers

The Jews trusted in their works and esteemed themselves better than others because they didn’t violate the law. They lived better, less sinful lives and substituted their religious works for the wisdom of God. The Greeks, on the other hand, trusted in their human knowledge and learning. This caused them to esteem themselves better than others who did not have their knowledge. They substituted education for the wisdom of God. Paul tells us each of these positions is foolish. Each is in opposition to the wisdom of God and makes itself an enemy of the cross.

Because of the emphasis on grace in many churches today, I am not as concerned about the Pharisees who trust in their law-keeping and good works to make themselves right with God. I am much more concerned about the philosophers who exalt their own understanding above the cross. These individuals are actually trusting in the wisdom of this world rather than the wisdom of God, keeping themselves from an intimate relationship with Him.

Another passage of Scripture in Isaiah 5 also makes this distinction between the two kinds of wisdom:

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! … Who justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away justice from the righteous man! (Isaiah 5:20-21, 23).

I read these verses many times in the past, and though I knew they were true because they are from God’s Word, I never thought I would see them become a reality in my lifetime. But today, we are seeing this happen before our eyes. Politicians and civil leaders vilify those who stand up for truth. Many deceived men and women are calling evil good and good evil, putting darkness for light and light for darkness. In today’s culture, those who stand up for women’s rights, including the right to abort or kill a baby in the womb, are hailed as heroes. These “heroes” say it is not our place to tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her body. But this “wisdom” is not the wisdom of God!

Now, I am not condemning or judging anyone who has chosen to have an abortion in the past, and neither does God. I am choosing to agree with the wisdom of God and what He says about a woman’s right to abort her baby. The wisdom of the world says it is okay to abort or kill your baby. The wisdom of God says it is not. God hates hands that shed innocent blood (Prov. 6:16-17)! If you find yourself with an unplanned pregnancy, there are other options. Go to your family or to a pregnancy center. Go to a church in your area to receive support and help during your pregnancy. You might choose to give up your child for adoption. But whatever you do, I am appealing to you, do not act on the wisdom of the world. It is foolishness and will not produce life, peace, faith, or hope for you.

If you have already had an abortion, there is forgiveness and mercy with God. I thank God for this redeeming truth. If you are born again, you will see your baby in heaven. But knowing and receiving that grace does not mean it is okay to change the truth — God’s wisdom—in an attempt to remove your guilt. Only the blood of Jesus can do that when we believe in His sacrifice on the cross.

I want to speak the wisdom of God to every person who claims to be pro-choice. There is one couple I am sure you are happy was pro-life—your parents!

This is just one example of an issue where people are calling evil good and good evil, assigning light for darkness and darkness for light. Verse twenty-three of Isaiah 5 says that this same group of people who call evil good and good evil will take bribes from the wicked and condemn the righteous. We see politicians, CEOs of large corporations, and much of the media doing this very thing today. They are willing to justify evil causes and those who represent them in exchange for what serves their own interests, whether it benefits them financially or helps keep them in power. That is the wisdom of this world, not the wisdom of God.

It is the church’s responsibility as the salt of the earth and light of the world to stand up for truth and warn our friends, family, and neighbors of the folly of the world’s wisdom. When we observe a government or people accepting the wisdom of this world as a substitute for the wisdom of God, moral decline is inevitable. In a moral decline, society follows these steps: First, they overlook evil. Then they permit evil by legalizing it. Then they promote and celebrate evil. And finally, they persecute those who still call it evil.

To read part two of Pastor Greg’s blog on the two types of wisdom, click here.

Adapted from Greg Mohr’s book, Walking in Wisdom.