1 Corinthians 2:6-8 

⁶We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. ⁸None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory

Vacation

It’s summer. I hope you enjoy your vacation? Why? Vacation is wonderful!

Someone said, “If you love your job, it feels like you’re on vacation all the times!”

A high school graduate approached his father, “What do you think is best career for me to pursue?” The father said, “It may be great for you to become a lawyer!” The son asked, “Do you want me to be a lawyer?” The father said, “No! I just want you to happily do what you love to do, and you love to argue, right?”

If children are not very sure yet of what they want to do in life parents tell them what to do. Parents encourage children to be responsible in their choices.

Surely, it is delightful to give advice when listeners respond constructively.

Probably, some appreciated and some ignored your advice. Most people listen attentively to individuals who have great achievements. If you advice those who have greater accomplishment than you, will they pay attention to you? Maybe! Those who attentively listen to advice practically prove that they’ve got wisdom.

Personally, how do you explain what has been declared in Proverbs 12:15?

¹⁵The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.

Together, let us meditatively reflect on Proverbs 19:20. ²⁰Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

To hear someone say “Good job!” is common. It’s not exceptional anymore. It’s no big deal. How about these remarks? “That is wise decision! You made an intelligent choice!” Did anyone remark, “You’re wise or made intelligent choice?”

Surely, the wise and intelligent would make wise decisions or intelligent choices.

Which remark do you prefer: “Good job or wise choice, intelligent decision?”

We’ve heard about wisdom of the old people. But is it possible for anyone to gain wisdom at a very young age? It’s commonly observed that wisdom would grow with maturity. As we grow mature, we gain wisdom. Wisdom is faithful partner of maturity. Is it possible for mature people to disregard wisdom?

Wisdom is significant part of life and destiny. All decisions made, all actions performed reflect wisdom. Great decision and performance exhibit great wisdom. Small tasks require small effort; trivial activities demand trivial effort.

On social media, senseless videos collect stars more than sensible videos.

And senseless articles have shares more than rational statements. Right?

To ponder upon sensible articles is maturity; it reflects spiritual growth also.

Social media can be practical platform to testify about transformation in your life. Consider what you post on social media. Your friends will be affected somehow.

Pray for godly wisdom; learn from examples of spiritually mature believers.

1.  Mature

⁶We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 

Many Christians utilize their social media to rebuke; and pastors admonish anyone who may read their social media articles and uploads. Comments can be useful to know the spiritual temperature of viewers. Some agree with emphasis; others expressively argue, refute and try to defend their personal opinions.

Just imagine: If social media was available in the first century, Apostle Paul may have uploaded a message of wisdom intended for the mature Christians in Corinth but not for everyone else. Perhaps, he would have customized who may view his article like: For mature Christians in Corinth only. Why should that be?

Previously, Paul emphasized that eloquence and persuasive words can never convince anyone to accept Christ as Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit should have inspired Apostle Paul to discern that wisdom of the world and religious authorities in the first century can never understand the gospel of Christ.

So, whenever he felt obligated to logically explain Christian beliefs from the Scripture, he knew that only spiritually mature believers can accept what he said without much apprehension, contention or argument. Apostle Paul had advised in 2 Timothy 2:22-26, ²²Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. ²⁴And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. ²⁵Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

How do you interpret when Apostle Paul told Timothy to flee the desires of youth and do nothing with foolish and stupid arguments? Did he imply that it is foolish and stupid to argue? Did he imply that argument is youthful desire?

When arguments produce quarrels, they are foolishness and stupidity.

No Need to Argue

Someone concluded: If you know that you are right and you don’t sense the need to argue just to prove your point that is practical sign that you have grown mature. But if you know that you are right but still insist and argue just to assert your point that is a practical sign that you have not reached maturity just yet.

Does it mean that if you desire to argue, you still have youthfulness in you?

Maturity is not a matter of age or years of life on earth. Maturity is revealed in our behavior, decision, action or performance. It is practical sign of maturity to know the proper time and place for argument. Wisdom facilitates maturity.

It’s foolishness and stupidity when arguments produce or result to quarrels.

May we internalize and always remember the message of Proverbs 20:3. ³It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.

When we testify of the goodness of God in our life, we expect resistance. Those who resist the Lord will argue for sure. Pray that God grants you the gift of discernment to sense it when people are not ready to accept your message yet. Pray also for godly wisdom to know the proper time and place to testify for Christ.

Do you accept that God has elected everyone who may believe in Christ? The mystery of Jesus Christ, the wisdom of God is revealed to us by his Holy Spirit.

2.  Mystery

⁷No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 

Apostle Paul and his missionary team declared the wisdom of God. What about it? What is this mystery that has been hidden? What did Apostle Paul mean when he proclaimed that God destined the hidden mystery for our glory? God destined the hidden mystery for our glory even before he created everything in heaven and on earth. How should we explain that to ordinary believers?

Let us reflect on what Apostle Paul previously said in 1 Corinthians 1:30. ³⁰It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

The Holy Spirit regenerated believers to trust Christ as Lord and Savior. He redeemed us from eternal destruction, and he set us apart to be holy righteous.

Formerly, our natural human inclination is to resist; we disobeyed anything that God has commanded us. We become righteous before God when we trust and obey him. Obedience is practical proof that we’re set apart for the glory of Christ.

Bear in mind that it’s only by faith that believers can internalize such truth. Again, intellectuality is useful but it can never cause anyone to believe in Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ declared in Matthew 11:25-27, ²⁵I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. ²⁶Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. ²⁷All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ²⁸Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Believe it or not, whatever our Lord Jesus Christ declares is absolutely true. When he said that God the Father hid things from intellectuals but revealed them to little children, it certainly happened just as he said it. The term, “little children” was commonly used by Hebrew teachers as description for their disciples.

Subsequently, Christ invites disciples to take his yoke and learn from him. The term “yoke” pertains to his teaching and instruction as our guide for learning. His yoke serves as guiding principles for Christ-like behavior and lifestyle; and so, when we abide by his teaching we experience rest from the burden of worldly life.

Did Christ imply that our choices are burdens if our decisions had origins from our human sinful tendencies? If you are a master and you have servants, you give them orders. Commands can be burdensome, oppressive yoke to servants.

Here’s a reality! When we accepted Christ as Lord, we become his servants also. Can you accept that? His commands are yoke that Christ advises us to take and learn from him. Yet, there’s hesitation to trust and obey the commands of the Lord. Why? Commands are misunderstood to be burdensome and oppressive.

3.  Misunderstanding

⁸None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory

The phrase, “rulers of this age” was symbolic term to describe Jewish rulers or executive officials in the Jewish assembly, especially those who crucified Christ.

Apostle Paul implied that their intelligence or their authority can never help them accept nor understand the mystery surrounding Christ, the wisdom of God. Did God intentionally hide the mystery surrounding Christ among intellectuals?

God had designed it that it is by faith not by intellect that we believe Christ as our Savior from eternal destruction. It is by faith not but reason that we trust Christ as Lord. It is by faith we accept his commands as impartial way to release blessing to obedient disciples. Therefore by faith, we obey our Lord Jesus Christ because we believe that his instructions are godly ways to have restful life.

Whatever task you’ve got, ordinary or not, life on earth is burdensome. 

Moses

Leadership is burdensome. Moses led more than 2 million Israelites when they escaped from the Egyptian slavery. His father-in-law advised him, “Delegate some of your responsibilities!” Actually, Moses prayed to the Lord about his burden. It says in Exodus 33:12-17, ¹²Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ ¹³If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

¹⁴The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Did Moses complain about his task as leader? He asked, “Teach me your ways, Lord!” Why? Moses believed that knowing the ways of the Lord is favorable to him. And the Lord promised his presence to go with Moses and give him rest.

Can you accept that the Lord who gave rest to Moses is the same Lord Jesus Christ who gives rest to anyone who comes, takes his yoke and learn from him?

The Lord who commanded Moses to lead Israel into the Promised Land is the same Lord who was born Jesus. He commanded us to lead potential believers to trust him and receive eternal life. Pray for increase of faith to trust and obey the Lord, then you can sense rest for your soul from burdens of life on earth.

The Lord Jesus Christ invited in John 7:37-39, ³⁷“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. ³⁸Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” ³⁹By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.

Are you thirsty? Do you crave or yearn for something? Pray for stronger faith to trust that Jesus Christ can refresh you from burdensome demand of life.

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