Comparisons & Contrasts
3: Truly Wise & Worldly Wise
Wisdom makes the best use of knowledge. The truly wise know that wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord.1 That is so different from the fear of man, because it is clean,2 and is blessed with strong confidence3 in God, as opposed to self-confidence. Its fear is filial, founded upon reverential love for the Lord. It is to be found in those who have been made wise unto salvation.4
Such wisdom is humble. Like Job, the Biblically wise would say of themselves: “We are but of yesterday, and know nothing…”5 There was a moment in their lives when they responded to God’s call: “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.”6 No doubt, they were overcome with wonder and amazement that the Lord should have most graciously declared: “My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine”,7 and “My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.”8
In contrast, the worldly wise know nothing of this, because it is spiritually discerned.9 The standard-bearer of their wisdom is self-confidence. “O how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up,”10 warns Proverbs. Yet their wisdom is set for destruction.11 O pray for their salvation before that awesome day dawns!
Read: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
1: Psalm 111:10. 2: See: Psalm 19:9. 3: See: Proverbs 14:26. 4: See: 2 Timothy 3:15. 5: Job 8:9. 6: Proverbs 4:5.
7: Proverbs 23:15. 8: Proverbs 23:26. 9: See: 1 Corinthians 2:14. 10: Proverbs 30:13. 11: See: 1 Corinthians 1:19.
