From the Preachers Desk

Isaiah wrote of the wisdom of God, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord" (Isaiah 55:8). To further demonstrate how lacking the wisdom of man truly is compared to God, the writer of Proverbs said, "For Jehovah giveth wisdom: out of His mouth (cometh) knowledge and understanding: He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright; (He is) a shield to them that walk in integrity; that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of His saints" (Proverbs 2:6-8). "Wisdom (is) the principal thing: (Therefore) get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding." (Proverbs 4:7). The writer of Psalms said, "The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do (His commandments): His praise endureth for ever" (Psalm 111:10).

The foolishness of men says that there is no God (Psalm 14:1; 53:1). Through man's wisdom they mock at sin (Proverbs 14:9), seek what the world offers (Proverbs 17:24), despise the wisdom of God (Proverbs 1:7), and totally lack godly understanding (Proverbs 10:21). The apostle Paul wrote, "For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe." (1 Corinthians 1:21). Let us briefly compare the foolishness of man's wisdom to that of God's.

Man's Wisdom says that men and women can divorce their spouse for any reason whatsoever. Because of this mindset, over half of all marriages conducted in the United States end up in divorce court. But God's wisdom, which is above our own demands that every marriage, continue until death. The ONLY reason God allows for divorce is "fornication" (Matthew 19:9). From the Greek word "porneia," fornication refers to every illicit sexual sin (i.e. homosexuality, incest, rape, prostitution, oral, bestiality, adultery, etc.).

Man's wisdom supports the marriage of a man to a man and a woman to a woman. In the name of "civil rights" the fight is on to allow homosexuals to form some type of union (preferably marriage). But God's wisdom teaches that it is an abomination for men and women of the same sex to enter into physical relationships, let alone to destroy the divine sanctity of marriage (Leviticus 18:22-24; Romans 1:26-28). "Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them MALE AND FEMALE, for this reason a man shall leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh" (Matthew 19:4-5; Genesis 1:27).

Man's wisdom teaches that a woman's body is her own with which she can do as she pleases. This common cry of the 'Pro-choice' feminists is nothing more than a smoke screen that allows fornication without consequences (i.e. abortion on demand). God's wisdom dictates that "none of us lives to himself" (Romans 14:7-8). Not to mention that God hates hands that shed innocent blood (Proverbs 6:16-17; Psalm 106:37-39). Human babies are much more than a blob or mass of tissue with no rights whatsoever. Whether we begin life as at conception or end it full grown and deteriorating, we are still human with every right that God ordains.

Man's wisdom says that corporeal punishment of children is against the law. While we must never advocate beating or abusing, the law of the land is not the law of God. God's wisdom commands all parents that they are to obey Him and not men (Acts 5:29). God instructs all parents to, "withhold NOT correction from the child; for if thou strike him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt strike him with the rod and shall deliver his soul from Sheol" (Proverbs 23:13-14). "He that spares the rod hates his son; but he that loves him chastens him many times" (Proverbs 13:24). "Chasten thy son while there is still hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying" (Proverbs 19:18). God knows that discipline is a must in the raising of children and He demands that parents do so (Proverbs 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15; Hebrews 12:5-11).

Man's wisdom belives the bottom line requires making money for the board of directors no matter what. We are living in an age where accumulation of material things out weighs the need to treat one's fellowman properly. Corporations lay people off early to save on paying benefits. They introduce drugs for public use knowing there may be as much as a 10% loss of life. they package their products tipping the scales in their favor so that profits will be higher. On and on we could go demonstrating the unethical behavior of businessmen and women. However God's wisdom demands a specific treatment of one's fellowman in everything. The New Testament principle of the golden rule summarizes the principles of Old Testament law. "ALL things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them" (Matthew 7:12). "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God and thy neighbor as thyself, there is none commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:30-31).

Farmers are not to completely glean their fields or vineyards, but are to leave some for the poor (Leviticus 19:9-10). The use of unjust scales and weights is a sin against God and humanity (Leviticus 19:35-37). Excess interest is considered unjust gain (Proverbs 28:8). God demands fair and just treatment of one another!

The Word of God instructs all men concerning right conduct (2 Timothy 3:16-17). If man's laws do not coincide with the commands and wisdom of God, then society will certainly lose. Jeremiah correctly categorized the wisdom of man whan he said, "they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge" (Jeremiah 4:22). May we never depend upon the wisdom of men, but seek God's wisdom and get divine understanding. "There is a way which seems right unto man, but the end thereof is the way of death" (Proverbs 13:12).