Soli Deo Gloria: For the Glory of God Alone

The Messenger, June 30, 2011
God’s wisdom and ours
By WALLY BUMPAS
Special to The Messenger
Our last article, entitled “God Only Wise” (from Romans 16:27), defined wisdom as the ability to see the best and highest goal, as well as the best way of reaching it. Since God knows all things, and since He is omnipotent (able to do all He pleases), then it follows that His wisdom will be perfect, so far above our own that the Bible can almost say that only God is truly wise.
And yet, being made in God’s image, we are able to reflect His wisdom to some degree. In fact Scripture repeatedly urges us to seek wisdom. The first nine chapters of Proverbs are one long plea to seek the gift of wisdom. In James 1:5 we read that “if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously…”  
The question now is — what does wisdom look like in a person? What does it mean to be wise? A definition has already been offered (see above), but before returning to that, let’s consider a misconception that some have about being wise. If you’ve ever been to the airport in Atlanta or Chicago (not so much Memphis) you know that there are planes filling the sky all the time, taking off and landing non-stop. How does this go on 24-7 without any of them ever running into each other?
A visit to the control tower solves the problem. There you will see that the controllers know the exact location, speed and direction of every single plane, whether flying or rolling on the ground, and, seeing the big picture, are able to keep them at safe distances from each other (though it doesn’t look like it to us).
The mistake is to suppose that this is an illustration of God’s wise and sovereign control of His world (which it is), and then to assume that wisdom is the enhanced ability to see and understand what God is doing in the world and in my life, and why He’s doing it. In other words, we think wisdom allows us to be in the control tower and see all that God is up to.
This is not so. In fact one whole book of the Bible is given to refute the silly idea that we can be as wise as God. Ecclesiastes begins thus, “Vanity of vanities … all is vanity.” What is the writer (probably Solomon) talking about? Is he trying to tell us that there is no fulfillment in this life without God? That’s true enough, but perhaps there’s another way to read Ecclesiastes. What if Solomon, writing as a seasoned wise man, is telling us we cannot possibly understand all the reasons that God does what he does in the world (and in my life)?
The world rarely looks like it’s being guided and controlled by a wise and sovereign God. His ways are above our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). To try and understand the why, what and when of God’s providence in the world will only lead to despair. As Ecclesiastes says, it is like “chasing the wind.”  J. I. Packer writes that “God in His wisdom, to make and keep us humble and to teach us to walk by faith, has hidden from us almost everything we should like to know” about His providential purposes in the world and in our lives.
Wisdom, then, is to realize this, to confess that God is wise and to trust Him. He is in control. He is at work. He is God! The Bible does tell us in general terms His plan and purpose. Immerse your mind in that. Think God’s thoughts after Him. Adopt His goals as your own. Then use your brain, make your daily decisions, and don’t look back.  
———
Editor’s note: Wally Bumpas serves as pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Dyersburg.

Print