Wisdom for Our Glory

​The wisdom of God and contrasting it to man’s wisdom has been a central message throughout the first two chapters of 1 Corinthians.  Paul makes it extremely clear that the two are not even closely similar and that God’s wisdom actually confounds the logic and reasoning of man’s.  However, after making his points regarding the futility of human thinking when trying to understand the things of God, Paul makes it clear that as redeemed sons and daughters of God we have been given a new mind and heart and can, therefore, understand the wisdom of God.  And not only can we understand it, but God has given to us the ability to comprehend His wisdom for our glory.

“Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.  But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.” 
~1 Corinthians 2:6-7

​For our glory.  That phrase should sound odd to your ears.  I know it does mine.  Throughout the Bible, we are taught that God alone deserves glory and that all creation was made to give Him that glory, including us.  However, here in 1 Corinthians, we are told that God decided before time began to reveal His wisdom to humanity so that we may receive glory.
 
How does this work?  How does being let in on the secret and hidden wisdom of God give us glory?
 
When studying this passage on the revealed mystery of God, I was reminded of Colossians 1 which tells us that God has chosen to reveal His great mystery to the saints.  And this mystery is Christ in each one of us, our hope of glory.  1 Peter 1:12 also explains why knowledge of God’s ways would be a privileged honor and one that would be for our glory.  In this verse, Peter explains that the things God has revealed to us are mysteries that even angels long to know. 
 
God has not revealed Himself to all creation, but to mankind through Jesus Christ.  Before the creation of the world, God designed us and created us for relationship with Him.  Even though Adam and Eve broke that perfect fellowship through sin, God had a plan in place to bring restoration and redemption so that we could once again enjoy intimate fellowship with Him. 
 
Therefore, being able to access God the Father and be told and shown His ways, character, purposes, and good will is a privilege that we should never take lightly.  In fact, gaining wisdom and insight into the mind and heart of God is an ability and opportunity that we should constantly be capitalizing on.  We should seek to grow in our depth of knowledge of God and desire to deepen our understanding of Him through time in His Word and relationship building moments of prayer and worship.  God is infinite, so we will never run out of new things to learn nor will we reach the limits of His wisdom and character.  He has ordained that we should understand His secret and hidden wisdom for our glory, so let’s resolve to grow in our understanding and knowledge of God.
 
Our lives should be centered around our mission and purpose to glorify God first and foremost.  However, God has given us things for our glory, not that we should boast or revel in our own glory, but be more awed and inspired by the Giver and even more resolved to use what He has given us to give Him more glory.  Therefore, may we be a people who understand the great honor and privilege it is to get to know the God of the ages and seek to grow in our understanding and relationship with Him.

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him.”
~1 Corinthians 2:9