Wisdom is something we do not naturally possess. It is something we must have for salvation. It is something we can never naturally possess. Wisdom is divine education, spiritual training; the learning, absorbing and practicing of eternal truth. It is a full-time occupation, a life-time job.
Wisdom is spiritual-mindedness. Paul's beautiful discourse on divine wisdom at the beginning of 1st Corinthians states The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God, for they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual discerneth all things." Wisdom is knowing and doing that which is for the best; living in harmony with eternal facts. The Bible says all others are fools.
Wisdom is wanting to stand right out in the bright light of the Spirit's revelation and thoroughly examine ourselves—within and without—by it; then striving to eliminate all that is out of harmony with God, and develop what pleases Him.
Wisdom is the examining of every act and activity and asking, has this any eternal value? Does it help in the way of life? Could I be doing something more profitable, more spiritually beneficial, more pleasing to God? Could I be doing something more mature, less juvenile?
The Scriptures continually contrast wisdom with folly, saying that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness. They make it clear that naturally we have no wisdom. Our natural condition is folly and ignorance, regardless of how well educated in worldly knowledge. There are many scriptural words translated "fool" and "folly," indicating different aspects of foolishness. The original meanings are; perverse, wilful, boaster, self-confident, empty, senseless, thoughtless, unwise, witless, dull.
Only one path leads to life. All other activities lead to death. Therefore, it alone is wisdom. And anything in life that does not contribute to this one purpose is folly—stupidity—idiocy; no word is too strong, the issues are so great! It will help us finally if we will honestly give our every action its proper label. Classification is the beginning of Order. Face the facts. Face the Light. We may still do it, but let us at least, frankly, face the facts and label it clearly as wisdom or folly, according to whether it contributes to godliness or not. It is of utmost importance—yea, it is absolutely vital—that we perceive the
clear distinction between true wisdom—the wisdom of God— and every aspect of that which the world considers wisdom. They are not only different, they are completely incompatible— diametric opposites, like light and darkness. They ARE Light and Darkness. All throughout Scripture, the thoughts of natural man are described as false, foolish, vain: uIt is not in man that walketh to direct his steps aright" (Jer. 10:23). And "directing the steps aright" is the very essence of wisdom.
? beseech you thereforebrethren, be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable/and perfect will of God" [Rom. 12:2).
—G. V. Growcott
The above quotations reflect the nature of the articles which have been selected from the many which bro. Growcott has written. They contain an urgent appeal to the servants of God that they heed His message to prepare for the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ. In the spirit of this Word our brother, daily conscious of this loving warning, wrote from his heart, of the wisdom, the transcendent height, depth, and transforming power of all the divine utterances.
He has shared this clear understanding with all who take the time to meditate on what he has found. He wrote from the words of the Prophets, Christ and the Apostles, with the object of helping to make ready a people prepared for the coming of the Lord. His words present deep insight into Scripture, giving us further confidence in our hope of salvation. By this collection many who have heard and read them in the past will have a ready reference for this labor of love; and a new generation may also share in this blessing, while waiting for the Masters return.
—E. F. Higham