. . . in whom are all treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden. Colossians 2:3

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge,” said Charles Spurgeon. And experience teaches us that it is so. Of knowledge there is generally not a shortage among us, but that can hardly be said of wisdom. Extremely valuable is the man, to business and industry, to government and politics, and to every area of life, who gives evidence of wisdom and sound judgment. What institution or organization will not pay dearly to have a man of wisdom on their board of directors, or sitting in the president’s chair? For wisdom is the ability to make the best and right use of knowledge, to apply it to the best possible advantage. And success, in this highly competitive society of ours, depends to a large extent on the direction and guidance of men of wisdom.

But really now, what is success? What is achievement? What is prosperity? From the point of view of the natural man of the world. it is to have enough and more of this world‘s goods. It means to be financially secure. It means advancing and developing and growing faster than the competition, with enviable sales records and larger profits. It is always humanly and materially oriented.

But from the perspective of the Word of God, success and achievement are seen quite differently. God had a specific purpose in mind for His created world—that it should bring glory to Him. Paul summarized God‘s purpose for us when he wrote in his first epistle to the Corinthians: “Whatsoever ye do. do all to the glory of God.” It is our high and holy calling to have the image of God restored in us, to be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. And to be conformed to His image is to be brought into fellowship with Him in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. All these treasures are stored in Him, and no one can really be said to be successful until he stands in a saving relationship to Him. For God counts success and achievement and prosperity in terms of the fulfillment of His divine purposes in us. He measures these things from a wholly different point of view than does fallen man.

There are, then, some vitally important implications for Christian living in this text. In a few short weeks, the classroom doors will again swing open for our youth of all ages, at elementary and secondary schools, as well as colleges and universities. There is a vast range of knowledge to be dispensed to our children and young people. There is much learning that must occur. In science and mathematics and history, in literature and grammar and the arts, there are facts and data to be put together and assimilated so that the student may have an understanding of the world in which he lives, and find his or her place in it.

But knowledge isolated from wisdom is of no value. For wisdom, as we noted earlier, is the right use of knowledge. It is possible for a person to be very knowledgeable, and yet not be prepared at all for life, or death. And an educational system which only seeks to impart knowledge, no matter how effectively done, has still not fulfilled its purpose. Unless education takes its starting point in the Word of God, and the teacher approaches every subject in the light of God‘s purpose for this world, and then builds upon that in the classroom, the student will gain knowledge but not wisdom. And that—the bringing together of knowledge and wisdom in the biblical sense—I realize. is no small task on the part of teachers. How we need to pray for them daily! And how grateful we must be for institutions of learning on all levels where Jesus Christ is known and confessed to be the source of all knowledge and wisdom.

And doesn’t the same truth stand behind the existence of every organization within the church? The fellowship of the church involves more than our worship on Sunday. In each of our churches there are societies and organizations for all age groups. The intent of these societies, I trust, is not just to provide our membership with something to do; hut rather to provide an opportunity for all of us as God‘s people to get to know more about Him in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. It is God‘s Word that we study, and it is God‘s Son whom we desire to come to know better. We can only enrich ourselves spiritually if we will put forth the effort to unearth these treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are in Christ.

Whatever money you and I have, we generally keep in a hank. As we need it for daily living, we draw it out for use. In a somewhat similar way, God’s Word, in which Christ is revealed. to us, is a bank upon which we must continually draw for Christian living. The amazing and unique thing about this resource of spiritual treasure, however, is that it is never depleted. Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today and forever, is indeed wisdom‘s never-ending source. Let us he faithful in drawing from Him all that we daily need to fulfill our life’s purpose.

Jesus, priceless treasure, Source of purest pleasure, Truest Friend to me; Ah, how long I‘ve panted And my heart has fainted, Thirsting, Lord for Thee. Thine I am, O spotless Lamb! I will suffer naught to hide Thee, Naught I ask beside Thee.