… as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom…
Summary: Paul’s words on teaching and admonishing lead us to reflect on what the Lord’s church was intended to be and to meditate on what it might become in the future.
When was the last time you attended a church where the Statement of Beliefs page included these words, “Members are expected to teach and admonish one another with all wisdom”?
I’m guessing the answer is, “Never.”
Perhaps you are wondering, “Why would Paul say such a thing?” After all, isn’t that what pastors are for?
Well, yes. Sorta …
Over the many centuries since Paul traveled the known world to bring the Gospel to as many Gentiles as possible, the concept of “church” has undergone many variations.
In Paul’s day, there was no New Testament to hand out to people. Instead, Paul and others were busy teaching people about Jesus and occasionally writing letters. Paul’s letter to the Colossians is a good example. In this letter he teaches, explains, encourages, and admonishes; all the things he is telling us to do to and for each other.
Even now, in this section of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he points us to his expectation for the Lord’s churches. He writes:
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts …” (Verse 15) and “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly …” (Verse 16).
In another letter, he writes:
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Paul is pointing to the fact that Christ exists in the believer’s heart.
If Christ is in us, then each of us who believes is changed by the fact that Christ is in us. We have something to offer other believers. We see things others can’t see.
A word of caution here. Jesus says:
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5)
The essence of Christ is humility (Matthew 11:29). If Christ is in us, we will be humble, too. If we are humble, we will check the mirror before we teach and admonish others. Yet, having done those things, Paul suggests that believers who have Christ in them will “teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.”
Something to think about!
Application: Participate in the Body of Christ.
Food for Thought: How does wisdom impact our teaching and admonishments?
How does wisdom impact our teaching and admonishments?
The beginning of wisdom comes as believers seek Gods will for their lives over their own.
James 1:5, If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
The biblical meaning of wisdom is a divine gift that guides believers in our spiritual journey and daily lives. By seeking Gods wisdom, believers can become aligned with God’s will, grow in our relationships, and respond to life’s challenges with grace and discernment.
God will properly reveal and teach His concepts as we seek His power over our own. His truths will renew our minds, becoming the foundation, power, for our transformation, as the Lord brings us into all truth and we align with the mind of Christ. Our thinking changes, as in His power we change the way we live.
Thank you, Ron.
When you write, “believers can become aligned with God’s will …” I think you are pointing us to the most essential aspect of being in Christ. Conflict is the definition of trying to impose our will on God’s.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom from Christ! 🙂
Good comments R2T2. I like that you zoomed in on the biblical meaning of wisdom.
What we think to be wise will certainly impact what we teach and encourage others to believe and do. The problem is that worldly wisdom is very different than biblical or godly wisdom.
James 3: -3 – 18: Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
So the wisdom we want to teach and admonish comes from God, is revealed in His word, and contains power that is different than what the world possesses.
1 Corinthians 2: 14 – 16: My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived” –
the things God has prepared for those who love him—
10these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16for,
“Who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?”
But we have the mind of Christ.
So True
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
Thanks Paul!
What you say is very true! We need God’s help to see God’s will.
Thank you, Rich!
You point us to a critical fact: worldly wisdom and spiritual wisdom from God are two different things!
Well said!