What is the gift of wisdom? We love this spiritual gift! The person with this gift is able to pull things down from the theoretical clouds to the earthy, practical, real life and risky day-to-day gut level. Wisdom heads the list in 1 Corinthians 12:8.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit.
First observe that wisdom, like all the gifts, is for the common good: for the good of the local body. Second, notice that the gift of wisdom is not defined in this passage but merely mentioned as a gift given under the direction of the Holy Spirit. We have to look elsewhere to understand what this gift actually is. The best place to start is in the context of the same book —1Corinthians 1:20-25.
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
In this passage God’s wisdom is contrasted with secular human wisdom. We see that God’s wisdom is related to the message of salvation, and is contrasted to the wisdom of the Greeks. The Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block for Jews, and foolishness to Gentiles. It is foolishness to them, for why trust a God who died? Why acknowledge someone who allowed himself to be executed as Savior and Lord of your life? It seems foolish. But the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom.
Not only is wisdom related to the message of salvation, but also to the entire revealed word of God. In the next chapter of 1 Corinthians (2:7-10) Paul further explores God’s wisdom.
We speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for it they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”—but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
Again we first see that God’s wisdom is related to the crucifixion of Christ. God planned a practical means of saving sinners by providing a substitute—the Lord Jesus. But the passage also speaks of a wisdom given by the Spirit of God which is beyond the gospel—wisdom revealed to us by his Spirit. This incorporates all things, even the deep things of God. In this context, wisdom is understanding the word of God: first the message of the gospel, and second, of deep theological concepts of God. This understanding of wisdom is also seen out in Ephesians 1:17.
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Wisdom comes through understanding the word of God. However, don’t mistake wisdom for just knowing factual information—even things about God. It is understanding Him and His word with a practical purpose.
In the practical section of the epistle, Paul tells the Ephesian believers (in Eph 5:15-16) to be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Here wisdom is related to how you live. We are exhorted to live carefully, economically and judicially—making the most out of every opportunity the Lord gives us. That is wisdom. Wisdom is very practical, very realistic, and very earthy. The person with the gift of wisdom is one who has keen insight into the word of God, and is able to see its impact for practical day-to-day living.
This connection of wisdom to practical living only echoes what James wrote years earlier. The first New Testament book written clearly refers to wisdom as practical. In 3:13 James writes,
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
Wisdom is not only something you know, but is something you do. It reflects core values that allow a person to understand what to do and how to do it.
Conclusion: The person with the gift of wisdom has an ability to keenly understand deep theological truths of the word of God, and to take them and make them simple and applicable in every day living.
