"However, where do you go to get God's wisdom? Where does it reside? Man is ignorant of its worth. It cannot be found in his world." -Job 28

It's among parents' first concerns for their kids--a good education. It takes up at least 18 to 20 years (or more) of hard work, coaching, expenses (big ones!), tutoring, projects, home works, exams, and extra curricular stuffs, jointly by the kids and parents. All these so that our kids would somehow end up cultured, acceptable to society, and attain some measure of success in life.

True Wisdom is No Where to be Found

Education is good, but what's really needed is wisdom. It not only provides good life for the now, but also for the hereafter. However, so few get wisdom, I mean the real stuff. And it isn't possible through education, no matter what degrees we have. Man has tried studying almost everything available under the sun, "putting an end to the darkness, even searching the farthest recesses--and yes, groping for ores in the blackest darkness (and have succeeded)." But according to Job, man nonetheless failed to come up even with something close to true wisdom.

Job adds: "The price of wisdom is beyond even the most precious stones...gold or crystals are nothing compared to it...it cannot be bought with jewels of gold." Good education, you can get by simply paying your tuition fees. But not wisdom. You cannot attend universities or seminaries to get it. You may have titles attached to your name--Doctor, Master, Reverend, Attorney, Architect, engineer--and still utterly lack God's wisdom.

True Wisdom is Being in God

They say wisdom is the application of knowledge. Well, that's what man's wisdom says. And they've applied this to their religions, too. But Job says it's definitely more than that. In fact, it "is well hidden from the eyes of every living thing." If man does not comprehend its worth, then there's no way any man can have it--even if he applies knowledge the best he can--even with the best help from his religion or church. Job practically says, as long as you're part of this world, there's no way you can lay hold of true wisdom--God's wisdom.

Here's the secret to getting true wisdom: "God alone understands the way to it and knows where it resides." You have to be a part of God to get it.

Thus, I have always thought it utterly useless to workout degrees in seminaries if it's God's wisdom you desire. I mean, that's what people sweat out for in seminaries and universities--to gain wisdom, not just education. After all, man has been gradually learning the powerlessness of mere education--it seems to promise success but later proves a problem in itself. Most corruption and wickedness in the world are done by educated people. Just watch most politicians and government officials.Just watch corruption even in church.

Man's Wisdom is Harmless and Powerless

People ask me why I have never set foot in any theological seminary to get a degree. The degree and title could have helped me a lot in my ministry, they reasoned, and in convincing people about God. Hmm? I don't really think so. Theologians have been doing that for centuries and yet the world remains unchanged. Well written theological books have been around in libraries and bookstores, yet all they do is inspire and interest people, not change them radically for God. Most church people are merely inspired people. In fact, it is the church that gets easily influenced by the world most times evangelism happens.

To have God's wisdom you have to be part of him. More accurately, God must live your life. This was demonstrated in Christ. God's wisdom is Christ. Jesus' wisdom was possible because God was in him. Fact, he was God. This is the only way God's wisdom can be imparted to us.

God's Wisdom is Dangerous

Simply put, man will never have God's wisdom except that God really lives his life for him. Thus, it's not in degrees or seminaries or titles or education. Jesus lived God's life so that he became the very wisdom of God, says the bible. And Jesus came that we may have life, and abundantly at that. Through Jesus, God can live our lives, and we can live God's life on earth. It's that simple. If we get this wisdom, we'll throw out anything of man's wisdom, especially our denominational churches.

The best that man's wisdom can produce are minds that create atom bombs, nuclear warheads, computer viruses, processed food that harm our health (but which are advertised as good stuffs), synthetic medicines that gradually destroy the body, militarization, dictatorships, jack up world inflation, and form religions and "Christian" denominations that keep people's spiritual lives rotten, to name a few. Yet, it astounds me how people still pursue man's wisdom like crazy. They prefer foolishness. Because titles and degrees command respect and higher pays. God's wisdom does not. It often leads to the cross.

People in the bible with God's wisdom were persecuted. The world rejected them. Even religious leaders killed them. Some were sawed in half. Some were killed with the sword. Some were fed to lions. Some were crucified on an inverted cross. Some were tied to horses which were made to run in different directions. Some were burned at the stake. Most were treated inhumanly. Yet, it is in these persecutions and witch hunts that the power of God was really manifested so that true believers turned the world upside down.

Where is God's Power Today?

Most missionaries today, heavily imbibed with man's wisdom and degrees and titles, are comfortably settled in their air-conditioned offices tinkering with computers and laptops. Some church leaders travel in limos, helicopters, or private jets. Some run for office, like the presidency. Church young people imitate secular rock singers and call that ministry. Thus, the world remains unchanged. They say there are more Christians now than we had decades or centuries ago. Hmm? I doubt it. Church goers, yes, but believers with God's wisdom?

God's wisdom cannot be had in any way in this world. Even creation, in its vastness and wonder, cannot provide for it. To get it, we have to live now in another world, in another dimension. Jesus both lived in the earthly and heavenly dimensions--but he remained and operated mostly in the latter.

But having God's wisdom makes the world hate you. Such rejection many Christians cannot stomach. So they settle with man's wisdom.