TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11
1 Corinthians 14:20-25
Hebrews 5:12-14

“Be not children in understanding.”

BE WISE IN THE RIGHT THINGS

The Corinthian Christians thought that they were knowledgeable. However, their abuse of counterfeit tongue-speaking, as well as other issues, revealed that they still had much to learn.

Thus, the Apostle Paul exhorted them not to be “children in understanding” (1 Cor 14:20), but to be mature in their spiritual thinking and understanding. Mature understanding begets godly practice. In the case of 1 Corinthians 14, a well-grounded understanding of the purpose of tongues would have led them to use their gifts wisely and appropriately. “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb 5:14).

Sadly, the Corinthian Christians were PhDs in the wrong things. They were well-versed in carnality and sin. They were not interested in learning the things of God but were focused in exalting themselves over others. They also did not bother to check whether their practices were in line with the Holy Scriptures. Their partisan spirit and presumptuous ways made them very much like the children of Israel in the day of Judges when “every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judg 21:25).

Similarly, we must strive also to be wise in the right things. As Christians, we must not be steeped in malicious things. Neither should we seek to be wise in wicked imaginations or the things of the world. We must instead seek to be wise in the Scriptures and things pertaining to heaven. Are you therefore wise in evil or righteousness? May it be the latter!

THOUGHT: Am I wise in righteousness?
PRAYER: Father, use me to help others grow in true wisdom.