July 11, 2023
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 – “We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—
these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
What it means
This was “borrowed” from Rev. Larry Trotter – former senior pastor at Concord UMC and now associate pastor at Middlebrook UMC.
My dad was a master griller. We often had navy beans and spam during the week (great in their own right in the hands of my mom), but we had steak on Saturday night. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night could stop my dad from breaking out the Kingsford and firing up the grill. And the steaks were always a perfect medium-rare. But he never used a thermometer or looked at his watch or, heaven forbid, cut into the meat to inspect for doneness. And yet, the steaks were always bright red and juicy in the center. My brother and I would ask him how he knew and he would just playfully smirk and dismissively say, “Well, you just have to pay attention.” Right, but pay attention to what? Years later, we finally cracked the code: for an inch-and-a quarter steak, you cook until the juice (not blood as some think) comes to the surface. Then, flip (only once, please), and cook on side two until the juice begins to puddle, again. Remove from the grill, let it rest a few minutes and medium-rare perfection every time.
Some things are learned from a book. Other things can be learned from tutorial videos. But wisdom is most often gained from spending time in proximity with someone who holds the wisdom and is willing to help you find it. In our New Testament passage, which is an echo of Isaiah, 64:4, Paul is describing the well of wisdom out of which he has been preaching to the church at Corinth. Moreover, he explains to them how they, too, can receive this mysterious wisdom that is available no other way.
A key word that points toward unlocking God’s wisdom is found in the word “love.” It reminds us of a thought Paul offers in his letter to the Romans (8:28): “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…” Loving God involves staying close to him through worship, prayer, and, well what we’re doing right now: studying his Word. The Spirit, another key word, reveals wisdom when we prayerfully ask for his interpretation. By loving God—think putting him first—and seeking the presence of the Spirit, we put ourselves in proximity of the source of all wisdom who is pleased to share it with his children as they spend time with him and “pay attention” as my dad put it.
What it means to me
God’s wisdom is more absorbed than learned. When we spend time with him in his written Word, he will always reveal its riches, and primary among them is his Living Word, Jesus, the Christ. And each time we seek, the Spirit will reveal facets of God’s wisdom we missed the time before as we mature, that is, grow closer to God. The next “lightbulb” moment is only a prayer away, as we seek God and the wisdom he can’t wait to share.
Prayer
God of all wisdom, we want to know you more as we know more about you. Come Holy Spirit and anoint our imaginations as come with loving hearts, seeking wisdom that we might grow more fully into God’s image each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.