Wisdom of God & Wisdom of Man

SCRIPTURE:  There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Proverbs 14:12 & 16:25 ESV

QUOTE: “Freedom is a right of every person: each individual enjoys the freedom of belief, thought, expression and action. The pluralism and the diversity of religions, colour, sex, race and language are willed by God in His wisdom, through which He created human beings. This divine wisdom is the source from which the right to freedom of belief and the freedom to be different derives. Therefore, the fact that people are forced to adhere to a certain religion or culture must be rejected, as too the imposition of a cultural way of life that others do not accept.” Pope Francis, Declaration of Human Fraternity for World Peace, 2019 (see https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/travels/2019/outside/documents/papa-francesco_20190204_documento-fratellanza-umana.html )

THOUGHT: Scripture is replete with the God’s truth about human wisdom, including this statement from Proverbs that Solomon the wise makes twice in short succession. Solomon was a king, rather like the Pope, if you will. A king to a people who followed him closely. Sadly, despite the gift of wisdom God gave Solomon when he asked, he wasn’t perfect. We see toward the end of his powerful career, he became more worldly-wise and less Godly-wise.

For the leader of the Catholic Church to say that the plurality and diversity of religions is willed by God in his wisdom says to me that the Pope may not really trust all of Scripture. That’s like saying it’s God’s will that people worship gods other than him – or you could say, like taking God’s own first commandment, “love the Lord your God will all your heart, mind, soul and strength,” and breaking that stone tablet again, only this time not out of anger at a people worshiping a golden calf, but out of human wisdom, claiming that you know a better way.

It’s nonsense that the God of the Universe, the creator and sustainer and redeemer of life, would say, “go worship other gods.” On the other hand, I’m pretty certain that Jesus said “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” Oh yeah, there it is, repeated by Matthew, Mark and Luke. (12:25, 3:25, 11:17)

In Luke 10:21, Jesus prays this spontaneous prayer after the disciples come back with stories of the healing and demonic deliverance Jesus has sent them out to accomplish: “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”

So, it is possible that God hides spiritual truths and power from those who consider themselves wise in their own eyes, but reveals them to people who humbly trust him, and that is his gracious will.

Paul probably writes the most about human wisdom verses God’s wisdom, and it’s far too much for this devotional. But I encourage you to start with Romans 1, and search all that he says to the early church (and to us) about wisdom: “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools (Romans 1:21-22).”

PRAYER: Oh God of creation, redemption and the sustaining of life in between, help us not navigate life based on the way that seems right to our human minds, but ultimately leads to death. Rather, help us love you with all our heart, mind, soul and strength.