Our Scripture reading for this Sunday is 1 Corinthians 1:18-31.
What is wisdom?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary (online) wisdom is defined as: the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgement; the quality of being wise. (eg. “listen to his words of wisdom.”)
A similar but different definition is found at Dictionary.com: the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight.
Those definitions fit the definition of wisdom in our world and in our culture today. Many believe that people gain wisdom from experiences, of from a depth of insight, or from an ability to judge things well. But these definitions of wisdom fail to fit the definition of wisdom that is found in Scripture.
According to Scripture, (true) wisdom comes only from God (1 Kings 3:7-9, James 1:5). Wisdom is gained through a right relationship with God and a right understanding of the world through Him. This is the kind of wisdom that the Apostle Paul calls the Corinthians toward - wisdom that acknowledges God and comes from Him. And the very heart of God’s wisdom is Christ crucified.
In Christ crucified we witness God’s grace because in Christ God abolished the idea that we must get what we deserve.
In Christ crucified we have hope because on the cross he bore the punishment for our sin.
In Christ crucified God’s tells us that He alone is our Saviour, not our bank accounts or our jobs or our good deeds.
In Christ crucified, we see God’s wisdom on display to save sinners like us and restore our relationship with Him.
The Corinthians struggled with that wisdom, as do we, because it is so contrary to the human wisdom of our day. But Paul reminds us that Christ crucified must be at the very heart of the Gospel that we proclaim because it is the very heart of the wisdom of God.
“It is because of Him (God) that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’” (1 Corinthians 1:30-31)