Those seeking wisdom must distinguish between the wisdom from God and that which is from man. Consider a few
examples of the difference between the two to see how far removed worldly “wisdom” is from the truth.
The Bible:
The world may teach: The Bible originated from the minds of men no less fallible than you or I.
But God says: All Scripture was given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16). While men physically took pen to paper, the words they wrote that comprise the Bible do not teach any man’s wisdom, but God’s.
The Scriptures’ “Fallibility”:
The world may teach: God’s commands need not be followed if they are “outdated” or do not “make sense.”
But God says: The truth’s never outdated (1 Peter 1:25). God’s ways and thoughts are far superior to ours (Isaiah 55:9), so it is not surprising that some commands do not “make sense” to mankind. It is not His Word that must change, but us. We must simply trust and obey (Genesis 22:1-12).
The Church:
The world may teach: The church is a man-made institution that must meet the public’s demands to attract numbers.
But God says: The church was built by Jesus (Matthew 16:18). The Lord determines who is added to His church contingent on one’s obedience (Acts 2:47). Individuals in close proximity who have been added to the Lord’s church join together to worship God and edify one another. These individuals form local churches of saints (cf. Ephesians 1:1). There are no commands given to local churches to increase numbers by a certain “quota.” The church should, though, seek to convert as many souls as possible, while not compromising truth to do so. The church is to uphold truth (1 Timothy 3:15), and grow spiritually (Ephesians 4:13-16).
Pride:
The world may teach: To be successful individuals, we must become proud.
But God says: Pride comes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18). God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). The proud are sure to fall (2 Chronicles 26:16; Daniel 4:28-33; Acts 12:21-23). Those who are humble will be lifted up by God (Luke 18:14; 1 Peter 5:6).
Life’s Purpose:
The world may teach: Life is about “advancing” oneself by seeking to “fulfill one’s dreams.”
But God says: Life’s purpose is bringing glory to God by serving Him to the best of our ability (Romans 12:1). What is far more important than education, careers, money, or fame is whether or not we are pleasing God.
– Michael Hickox