Daily Bread 2011 - 1 Corinthians 2
Wisdom From the Spirit
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
What Does This Mean?
Paul continues his teaching on the difference between human wisdom and God’s wisdom. He states in verse 4, “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.” Again he is referring to the temptation in the Corinthian church to put their faith in personalities vs. the person of the Holy Spirit.
He then goes on in the verses above to teach about the role of the Spirit in revealing God’s nature. He also realizes that without the person of the Holy Spirit his teaching will be foolishness to those who are spiritually immature. In fact, he even goes as far as to say the man without the Spirit will never understand the things of God and they will be foolishness to him. Paul ends with an incredible proclamation for those who have the Spirit of God (all believers in Christ). He says “But we have the mind of Christ”. This is possible because just as the spirit of person knows their thoughts, the Holy Spirit given to us gives us access to the wisdom and mind of Christ.
What Does This Mean For Us?
It means that as believers we have been given an incredible gift. We have access to God’s wisdom through His Word (Jesus Christ) and His Spirit. As we grow in our discernment (another spiritual gift), we will be able to better understand God’s wisdom. And as we gather as the body of Christ and we learn from each other and the gifted teachers God places in the church, we grow in wisdom and spiritual maturity.
Importantly we don’t distinguish between wisdom, and then acting on God’s wisdom in obedience to His word. We don’t gather wisdom for wisdom sake, but to use it to make decisions in this life that reflect God’s priorities and mandates for us.
This is the sense in which Paul says, “We make spiritual judgments”. As tough and challenging decisions come before us, we will be able to make the right decision as we spiritually discern God’s will for any given situation. In the book of James 1st chapter, the writer says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (1:5)
God we often lack Your wisdom because we don’t ask you for Your wisdom in the everyday decisions of life. Help us to rely on Your Spirit, as we live our lives make decisions that are spiritually discerned. Amen.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:16 “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
What Does This Mean?
Paul continues his teaching on the difference between human wisdom and God’s wisdom. He states in verse 4, “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.” Again he is referring to the temptation in the Corinthian church to put their faith in personalities vs. the person of the Holy Spirit.
He then goes on in the verses above to teach about the role of the Spirit in revealing God’s nature. He also realizes that without the person of the Holy Spirit his teaching will be foolishness to those who are spiritually immature. In fact, he even goes as far as to say the man without the Spirit will never understand the things of God and they will be foolishness to him. Paul ends with an incredible proclamation for those who have the Spirit of God (all believers in Christ). He says “But we have the mind of Christ”. This is possible because just as the spirit of person knows their thoughts, the Holy Spirit given to us gives us access to the wisdom and mind of Christ.
What Does This Mean For Us?
It means that as believers we have been given an incredible gift. We have access to God’s wisdom through His Word (Jesus Christ) and His Spirit. As we grow in our discernment (another spiritual gift), we will be able to better understand God’s wisdom. And as we gather as the body of Christ and we learn from each other and the gifted teachers God places in the church, we grow in wisdom and spiritual maturity.
Importantly we don’t distinguish between wisdom, and then acting on God’s wisdom in obedience to His word. We don’t gather wisdom for wisdom sake, but to use it to make decisions in this life that reflect God’s priorities and mandates for us.
This is the sense in which Paul says, “We make spiritual judgments”. As tough and challenging decisions come before us, we will be able to make the right decision as we spiritually discern God’s will for any given situation. In the book of James 1st chapter, the writer says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” (1:5)
God we often lack Your wisdom because we don’t ask you for Your wisdom in the everyday decisions of life. Help us to rely on Your Spirit, as we live our lives make decisions that are spiritually discerned. Amen.
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