“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil”           Ephesians 5:15-16

According to God’s Word there are two kinds of wisdom: A wisdom from above and a wisdom from below. A heavenly wisdom from God and a worldly wisdom that’s not from God. A supernatural wisdom and a natural wisdom. A selfless wisdom and a selfish wisdom. A wisdom which exists as a result of God-confidence and a wisdom which exists due to self-confidence. A divine wisdom and a demonic wisdom. A creative wisdom and a carnal wisdom. A wisdom that draws people together and a wisdom that drives them apart. A wisdom inclined to good deeds and a wisdom governed by opportunistic ambition. An ordered wisdom and a disordered wisdom. A spiritual wisdom and a sensual wisdom. A wisdom equated with loving God and living righteously, and a wisdom based on man’s own understanding, standards, objectives and desires.

One kind of wisdom comes from the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:17), is given through the Word of God (Deuteronomy 4:5a, 6a), and found through believing prayer (James 1:5), while the other is “earthly, unspiritual, of the devil” James 3:15. One begins when a person is born again while the other begins when a person is born. One is a God thing while the other “is no more than an animal kind of thing” William Barclay. One serves the Master while the other serves man. One aims to satisfy God while the other is self-satisfied. One recognizes that “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights” (James 1:17), while the other rejects God’s way, God’s Word, and God’s will.

These are vital distinctions. They indicate how earthly wisdom has its origin in man’s nature totally apart from God whereas heavenly wisdom can never happen unless there’s a relationship with God. As indicated in Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” That’s foundational. The source of true spiritual wisdom is in knowing God. It’s only when we’re in a vital relationship with Jesus Christ that we’re able to access the wisdom that comes from above. It’s in Jesus, and in Him alone, that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden (cf. Colossians 2:3; 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30).

Finally a warning and a blessing: If you pursue worldly wisdom you’ll encounter “disorder and every evil practice,” but if you pursue heavenly wisdom you’ll receive “a harvest of righteousness” James 3:16&18.

With this in mind, “be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” Ephesians 5:15.