Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood …

There is nothing more delicious than discovering a secret, understanding something for the first time that remains a mystery to others without the same knowledge. For Christians that mystery is God’s wisdom, and once understood, everything changes—everything begins to make sense. The wisdom of God is like the instructions of a parent which a child cannot comprehend, being incapable of mature thought. The world is incapable of understanding God’s truth, so it is mysterious to them. Even more so, it is foolishness to them, like a child thinking a parent stupid. But when the child comes of age, that which seemed foolish before now is seen as wise.

God has purposefully made wisdom like that—it cannot be understood without the “key,” which once obtained opens the door to a wonderful vista of God’s glorious plan across the ages. Each succeeding generation of thinkers and philosophers attempts to “crack” the mystery of why we exist, what is our purpose, and how we should live. But the ideas and philosophies come and go, changing with the times, never stable. The ancient Greek philosophers like Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates; the Roman orators like Cicero and Seneca; Renaissance thinkers like Francis Bacon; or modern academics like Russel, Marx, and Foucault—all plied their various ideas, which were all at odds with each other.

One can imagine a grand debate hall where every philosopher argues his views, all at the same time. But when God enters, every voice is stricken. As He said to Job, so now He speaks, “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man, and I will ask you, and you instruct Me! ‘Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding…’” (Job 38:1–4). The book of Proverbs, what we might call the “Handbook of Applied Godly Wisdom,” ratifies this thought: “The Lord by wisdom founded the earth, by understanding He established the heavens” (Prov. 3:19). The underlying truth is this: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov. 1:7).

The mystery of God’s glorious wisdom unfolds through Paul’s teaching. It is completely out of sync with worldly thinking. Philosophers come and go, but God’s wisdom remains unchanged from the beginning!

Lord, I commit to listening to Your wisdom above that of this world.