Whose wisdom do you trust? Do you trust in the wisdom of the flesh, the wisdom of the world? Or do you trust in Christ and hold fast to his promise?
At first glance, the wisdom of the world often appears to be the better option. The wisdom of the world may appeal to our sense of fairness, our sense of justice, our selfish desires, or our experiences.
We generally accept the world’s wisdom when it comes wrapped in what sounds like a Christian message.
In fact, often times the wisdom of the world comes to us from sources that we expect to hear Biblical wisdom from, such as Pastors and Teachers, who merge worldly wisdom into the teachings of the Bible.
However, Paul is clearly warning us in Colossians 2 that we should stay rooted in Christ, the Head of the body (the Church), and avoid the wisdom of the world. Wisdom of the world states that we can find truth and freedom apart from Christ through our actions. It says if we just follow this or that tradition, or we take a certain step in our lives, cut out this or that person, we can have happiness.
True transformation of our lives comes from holding fast to Christ, and does not come from human traditions, legalism, or mystical experiences. Christ is all-sufficient for salvation and spiritual growth – nothing else is needed.
True Transformation
In Colossians 2:14-17, Paul explains that Christ canceled the legal demands of the law. 14 “He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”
Legalism attempts to constrain us to human requirements and leads us to believe that we can achieve salvation or sanctification through our own human effort rather than giving up our control and surrendering to Christ.
Self-Discipline & Asceticism
In verses 20-23, Paul warns against asceticism (severe self-denial) as a false path to holiness. “These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom… but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”
Contrary to the appearance of holiness, focusing on depriving ourselves, harsh self-discipline, or avoiding all pleasure can actually become a form of self-worship. When we focus on the negatives and on our own performance, it takes our eyes from Christ.
When we push those around us to live what we consider “perfect” lives, it puts us to be in the place of Christ as the Head. Paul warns the early church often that it isn’t what you refrain from that makes you a follower of Christ, but rather that you put your trust in Christ and seek to honor him with your life.
Hosea 6:6 says, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”
Our role as followers of Christ is first and foremost to love God with all our heart, and love those around us. We are to be kind, to speak the truth with love. We do not beat around the consequences of sin, but we focus on the love of God who sent a sacrifice for us, that he is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9).
We shouldn’t be harsh with ourselves, and so we shouldn’t be harsh with others. We should love because Christ first loved us.
