Prov.1:[7] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Eze 28:15  Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 

Eze 28:16  By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 

Eze 28:17  Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 

As we saw in the previous two studies, the heart and lusts of the man has been the reason why the man will not “endure sound doctrine.” And it is the desires of the heart that has caused the man to walk after his own affections and lusts, and man rejects anything that ‘threatens’ the affections and the lusts of his heart. And just as Satan had “corrupted” his wisdom ‘by his reason,’ this is also the case with the man. He desires to ‘speculate,’ instead of following what God’s word truly says. Speculation gives the man the opportunity to “reason,” and put his wisdom on display. And man has trusted in his own wisdom instead of being led by the word of God. And by using his own ‘reasoning,’ he is able to judge the affairs of this life according to his heart, and his decisions are made based upon his what he has reasoned in his own heart and mind. This is the part of the attributes of Satan that the man himself receives glory and praise from other men.

1Co 2:4  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 

1Co 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 

Furthermore, by his ‘reasoning,’ man is able to judge the affairs of this life by the wisdom of this world, he is able to excel in this ‘spirit of wisdom.’ This is what the Apostle Paul was referring to in the verses above, to excel in the wisdom of men is very “enticing,” and for many, this is where they put on display their ‘power,’ this is why Paul shows the contrast between the wisdom of men and the power of God in verse 4, and 5. By this enticing wisdom, the words of the man is sought after by those who desire to ‘walk in his footsteps,’ and they too seek the praise of other men. And the men of the world reject God’s word because he doesn’t find the value of God’s word on the table of his heart’s desire. The men of this world will accept what they love, what they find interesting, and what benefits them, and actually what entices them.

1Co 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 

1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 

1Co 2:11  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 

1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 

Therefore, man would rather speculate about the unknown, and even God’s word of Truth, this is because if they man is able to ‘figure out’ something on his own, then he can be celebrated for his wise reasoning about the affairs of this life, or by ‘deciphering’ what God ‘is really trying to say.’ This is why man views the wisdom of God as “foolish,” and the enticing aspect of the wisdom of men is not so much desiring to hear something that fulfills the lusts of the flesh, but having the opportunity to teach his wisdom unto others. This is where the man objects to the wisdom of God. The wisdom of God does not align with the lusts of the flesh and heart of the man, and with being the case, only they who “love Him” will desire the wisdom and instruction from the Father. And with the man, it boils down to what he allows to ‘enter into his heart,’ but God designed that His wisdom would be sought after, and desired, and that His Word would enter into the heart of man, and be pleasant unto his soul. And that man would love the word of God and would operate upon it in all his life. But man desires to be a ‘wise fool,’ and despise God’s wisdom, and understanding, and lean unto his own his own understanding, “this wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” James 3:15

Col.2:[2] That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

[3] In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

[4] And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.

Rod Jones