In 1 Corinthians 12:7-87But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; (1 Corinthians 12:7‑8), we read, “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit.” If this verse is read in isolation from other scriptures, it might well be misunderstood. Is wisdom a gift that is given only to some believers? Do we not read in this same epistle that “Christ is made unto us wisdom” (1 Cor. 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30))? Cannot every Christian seek wisdom from God and follow it? Or is the gift of wisdom given for situations outside of our own lives?
We read in Proverbs that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:1010The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)), and surely this is available to all. While the Old Testament believers did not have the nearness to God that we have in this day of His grace, yet those who sought wisdom found that it begins with the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the recognition of His supreme authority over us and that we are accountable to Him for our conduct. This was true at all times in man’s history. For the believer today, it is not so much the fear of judgment (although there is government in the house of God), but rather it is that holy fear which the Spirit of God produces in our souls—a fear that we may fail to walk in a way that is pleasing to Him. Surely this godly fear is the beginning of wisdom.
Christ Made Unto Us Wisdom
In this sense, the wisdom of God is indeed available to every Christian, for in walking with the Lord, we can go forward with a consciousness of His guiding hand over us, and we can look to Him for help in every step of our pathway. When we are told, as noted above, that Christ is “made unto us wisdom,” it is the wisdom of God that is given for the walk of the believer down here. There is no restriction on this, for it does not depend on spiritual intelligence or knowledge; rather, it is the guidance that we experience in whatever circumstance we may find ourselves, in the walk of faith. Even if we have failed and perhaps missed the path, yet in owning this before the Lord, we can be assured of His help in getting back into the way of His choosing.
When we read of gifts, however, we find that they are not mainly connected with our personal walk. Rather, they are viewed as gifts to the church, and thus for the blessing of the whole body of Christ. Thus we read of “diversities of gifts,” “diversities of administrations,” and “diversities of operations.” They are connected with the precious truth of the one body, where each member contributes that which ministers to the good of the whole body. Paul enlarges on this in Ephesians, where he says that gifts were given “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:1212For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (Ephesians 4:12)).
The Gift of Wisdom
In 1 Corinthians 12 we have both the gift of knowledge and the gift of wisdom mentioned. But the gift of wisdom is mentioned first, possibly because it is rarer and more needful. We have already spoken about knowledge in a previous issue of this magazine (March 2019), but wisdom is knowing how to apply knowledge in the right way to a particular situation. We recognize this even in natural things. A man may be very clever and have a large body of knowledge, yet lack the ability to apply it in a useful way. This does not mean that his knowledge is not valuable, but rather that it may take another to take this knowledge and make full use of it.
In speaking of spiritual wisdom, it is that special gift that can bring out God’s wisdom to bear on a situation or set of circumstances. It is similar to what characterized the children of Issachar in David’s time, who were “men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” (1 Chron. 12:3232And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment. (1 Chronicles 12:32)). While we would not limit this understanding to only a few, yet God in His wisdom has given special gifts of wisdom to some. When they exercise this gift (in walking with the Lord), they are able to point out a way of acting in a situation that others, having the Holy Spirit indwelling them, are immediately able to recognize as the mind of the Lord, even though they may not, in themselves, be able to point out the way. As another has remarked, it takes an engineer to supervise the building of a road, but any who are able to drive on it can tell whether it is a good one or not.
We should be very thankful for all the gifts the Lord has given to His church. Surely the Lord may use anyone who is walking with Him to point the way in wisdom in a certain situation, but how helpful to have those who have a particular gift in that way! Such individuals may not have as much knowledge as some others, and they may not even be recognized as leaders or teachers among God’s people. Yet in their sometimes quiet way they have the gift of assessing before the Lord how God’s people should act. We need grace from the Lord to recognize such gifted ones and be ready to listen to their advice and counsel.
The Wisdom of Solomon
We find an example of this in the Old Testament, when king David was on his deathbed. There was some unfinished business concerning a man named Shimei, who had cursed David when David fled from Absalom. David committed the matter to his son Solomon, recognizing his wisdom, as he said to him, “Thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him” (1 Kings 2:99Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood. (1 Kings 2:9)). Solomon did indeed exercise a great deal of wisdom in dealing with the matter.
In Ecclesiastes, we find an incident recorded where a wise man’s wisdom was exercised, yet not appreciated. A small city was besieged, and Scripture records that “there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. ... The poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard” (Eccl. 9:15-1615Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. 16Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. (Ecclesiastes 9:15‑16)). The foremost example of this is our Lord Jesus Christ, who by God’s wisdom has done a work on the cross that would deliver all who come to Him. Yet how often the wisdom of God at the cross is despised and deemed to be foolishness (1 Cor. 1:1818For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18))! So today, in spiritual things, sometimes the wisdom given by one who has that gift is not respected or heeded.
Whether it is God’s wisdom which was displayed at the cross of Christ or whether it is God’s wisdom through those to whom He has given that gift, it is a blessed thing when we recognize the Source of it and accept it.
W. J. Prost