Wisdom and Knowledge

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Scripture:

Col. 2:2 I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself,
Col. 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Observation:

Humanity has always been on a search for wisdom and knowledge, but for the Christian there is one place where this wisdom and knowledge can be found, and that is, in Christ.  God’s mystery is bound up in his endless love for the humanity which he created.  This holy love became incarnate and was revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ.  In Jesus are “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”  Therefore it is when we find ourselves “in Christ” that we discover all wisdom and knowledge for it does not come from anything external, but only in relationship to Christ.

Application:

Trying to gain wisdom and knowledge outside of Christ is ultimately futile.  Are there a lot of “smart” people in the world — sure!  But are there a lot of really “wise” people in the world? 

The most powerful combination that we encounter is a gifted and talented person who lives in humility in relationship with Christ.  When our talents and abilities are placed in humble service before the Lord then those human abilities become combined with the nature of Christ and something happens on an exponential level.  Being smart and being a Christian are not two mutually exclusive things!  Instead, being intelligent and getting to know Christ is an incredibly powerful experience and places people in positions where they can have an influence on the shaping of the world politic and culture. 

To have wisdom and knowledge means that we must know Christ.  We must understand that he is the source that unlocks the mystery of God for his people.  When we try to explain and/or rationalize the things of this world, or the things that we can see, feel and touch without the mystery of Christ we lack true understanding.  Christ must be the center and the lens through which we view all things.  Only in this way will we even begin to catch a glimpse of the “treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for bringing me back to focusing on you.  Thank you for providing a lens through which I may see and seek to understand. Amen.


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