There is a leader you know who works urgently on his agenda, lives for today, focuses on how to get ahead, sets his own goals, and relies on his abilities.

This leader operates as if his work is a zero sum game — always competing to get ahead, so others won’t beat him — so he won’t lose the game. As he evaluates opportunities, he is more concerned with what he might have to give up than how the opportunity could benefit all parties. He worries about resources and advantages for himself, his family, and his business. When he sees others get ahead, he often feels like he is losing.

In his daily competitive battle, he acts first so others at his workplace won’t beat him to the top. He learns from his experiences, and he’s been recognized for his savviness when he helps his team beat the competition. However, when he is criticized for his work, he always acts quickly to defend himself.

This leader’s definition of success is based upon the people he knows and some leadership books he’s read. While he constantly compares himself to those he knows, he firmly believes if he keeps working hard, learning, gaining more resources, and applying all he has, he will be more successful than most people he knows.

I know this man well. Do you know someone like him?

Wisdom From The World

The world is a formation machine. The wisdom of the world tricks many people into leading and working on their own knowledge and strength, living for the present age (as if success is totally dependent on them), acting for themselves to get ahead, competing, defending themselves, constantly comparing themselves to friends and colleagues, believing their success is based on a curve, and they will “do better” than most people.

Wisdom From God

Much of what appears to be wisdom is folly — it will not last. The wisdom we receive from God is much different — infinitely superior to the wisdom of the world. God’s word repeatedly reminds us that worldly wisdom is folly when compared to the wisdom God offers us. The wisdom of God is so vast we can not fully comprehend it on this side of heaven.

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” – Romans 11:33

It’s true, God’s wisdom is too deep for us to fully understand and too magnificent for us to fully grasp. However, the wisdom God does reveal to us is perfectly useful for our daily life and work.

Wisdom: A Means To True Success

Wisdom is the practical means by which we attain our highest purpose and satisfaction in life. God’s wisdom is able to guide us through every situation in this life, and guides us to the life to come.

Wisdom includes knowledge, insight, and resolve to move toward what is most important. Wisdom always seeks what is best. John Piper says, “Wisdom is the factual knowledge, situational insight, and necessary resolve that together succeeds in attaining full and everlasting happiness.”

7 Key Distinctions Between Wisdom and Foolishness

1. Wisdom starts with reverence for God.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” – Proverbs 1:7

God made everything, including you and me. Everything is His. He controls all things. When this is our starting point in all our work, we have a humble perspective for what to say and do in each moment at work. Knowing we are God’s gives us confidence to listen to others and act on what is right.

2. Wisdom always acknowledges God.

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.” – Romans 1:21-22

Every moment is spiritual. God has provided life and breath for every moment, therefore every moment is about Him. To pretend we are in charge at any moment, or that we accomplished something in life or work without God, is completely false. Promoting ourselves at work without acknowledging God is worthless. When we head down a path of self-directedness, it leads to a debased mind and the degradation of our company and community.

3. Wisdom beats human thoughts and ideas every time. Wisdom mocks some of earth’s smartest people.

“Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” – 1 Corinthians 1:20

God’s word stands in stark contrast to what we hear on the news, from social media influencers, and even from some leaders we trust. God’s word stands alone as the complete and exclusive source of wisdom that provides unfailing knowledge of how to act in all situations at work.

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” – 1 Corinthians 1:25

God's word is completely practical for all of life and work. We can use the truth of God to discern the words of coworkers and friends — allowing us to confirm good thoughts, ideas, and directions while discarding those that are worthless or distracting.

4. Wisdom may look weak to those who don’t understand it.

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” – 1 Corinthians 1:27

God has a long history of using humble vessels and surprising means to make clear what is good, true, and beautiful. So we should not be surprised or dismissive when someone points us to truth beyond our current understanding. And, on the other hand, we should not be surprised when strangers, friends, and coworkers mock us for following God.

5. Wisdom at work models the way of the cross.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” – 1 Corinthians 1:18-19

The knowledge and experience of the cross of Christ in our lives calls and compels us not to seek our own agenda in our life and work. Rather, we must surrender some of our greatest privileges as we consider the needs of those we serve.

6. Wisdom works for building anything.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” – Matthew 7:24-27

We can literally build a house, a business, a community, a city, and mostly importantly a life by following Jesus. There is no other way. Everything built on substitutes — on anything less — falls and crashes like a house built on sand.

7. Wisdom serves the wise and the foolish daily.

“I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.” – Romans 1:14

To know God is a gift that is too good to keep to ourselves. To know the comfort of His love. To know the purpose of life. To be a witness to others of the difference Jesus makes in your life and work is the highest responsibility and honor on earth. We are assured in Christ, we don’t need to avoid foolish people — we need to love them. We must share the wisdom we have with our neighbors and coworkers — that all might know the perfect ways of God and desire to follow Jesus.

Yes, it’s true — the ways of God are beyond our comprehension, but we are called to fully utilize the wisdom we do understand. Using the knowledge, insight, and resolve we have been given in our life and work allows us to gain more wisdom — learning more what it means to lead like Jesus. What an amazing God!