DEVOTION
THE 1ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS
WORDS OF WISDOM
1 Cor 12:7-11
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the
common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom,
to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another
faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to
another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing
between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to
still another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them
to each one, just as he determines.
NIV
Having done a summary of sorts of these gifts of the Spirit, we are now
going to take a look at each and see just how the Spirit operates within us as
He determines as to which one and when He needs to manifest them in and through
us for the common good. Therefore, we will first take a look at this message of
wisdom. In order to have a fuller understanding of this, we should use the Greek
words which are more correctly translated as a word of wisdom. The Greek word logos is used vary broadly and being
paired with wisdom it may well be seen as a full message, or discourse of
words, such as in a sermon or a discussion, or a teaching. The Greek word Sophia
or sofia is used as the wisdom that
belongs to men, but also supreme intelligence that belongs to God. Therefore,
because this is a gift of the Spirit and thus a gift of God, we would have to
come to the conclusion whatever is spoken through this gift of the message of
wisdom is not from the mind of man. That is to say, this wisdom does not come
from hours of study or for that matter, years of study. It is not dependent on
the number of degrees or learned knowledge that we have acquired. This is not
to say that through all this time and study we have not gained much human
wisdom or understanding of many things, and in the case of us believers, the
things of God. Being learned in the scriptures certainly adds to our
understanding of our relationship with God, or rather His relationship with us,
His creation. We have to remember, living in the kingdom of God is a
God-centered life, rather than man-centered, so we have to remember this is all
about God and His relationship with us. However, as for this gift of wisdom, it
simply shows up as the Spirit determines, and not dependent on the amount of
study we do and the learned information we have. This may be seen right in the
middle of a sermon, or discussion, or teaching which has been prepared by hours
of study. Right there, in the course of speaking that which has been determined
by man, the Spirit just inspires a word or words that come straight from the supreme
wisdom that belongs to God. It would not come from the mind of the prepared
man, but from the Spirit. Words not prepared, words not thought through as to
have the greatest impact, words not printed in notes, or rehearsed, but words
that speak from the wisdom of God for that moment in time for whoever is
listening. We may not know in our minds at the time, but those words will
speak directly into our spirit for our benefit, for the common good of the church.
This is the gift of a message of wisdom.
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