Hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge

Colossians 2:2-3 (NASB)

……that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

In “Psych Basics” of Psychology Today, the following is written about wisdom:  “Like art and pornography, wisdom is hard to pin down, but people generally recognize it when they encounter it. Psychologists pretty much agree it involves an integration of knowledge, experience, and deep understanding that incorporates tolerance for the uncertainties of life as well as its ups and downs. There's an awareness of how things play out over time, and it confers a sense of balance.  Wise people generally share an optimism that life's problems can be solved and experience a certain amount of calm in facing difficult decisions. Intelligence—if only anyone could figure out exactly what it is—may be necessary for wisdom, but it definitely isn't sufficient; an ability to see the big picture, a sense of proportion, and considerable introspection also contribute to its development.”

Whatever wisdom is, Jesus Christ is the source.  In this passage, Paul writes that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ Himself.  In I Cor 1:24 Jesus is described as “wisdom of God” and in I Cor 1:30 He is described as “wisdom from God”.  Jesus is not only the source of wisdom, He is wisdom.  Wisdom of God also is called “a mystery”, both in this passage and in I Cor 2:7. 

Christian people, to whom Paul is writing, should have their hearts encouraged.  Why?  Because they have been knit together in love.  The Greek word that is translated “knit together” is “symbibazo” where the scientific term “symbiosis” comes from.  Symbiosis describes close and long-term interactions between different biological species.  One example of many is the interactions of coral organisms and various types of algae living inside them that produce coral reefs.  Christian people, regardless of age, sex, personalities, cultures, backgrounds, etc, are knit together.  The bonding of this knitting is the love of Christ that exists in the hearts of authentic Christians.  Such love puts others first where people love others as much as they love themselves.  Do you feel “knit together” with other Christians?  If so, are not these close relationships a source of great encouragement to you?  If not, you are not where you should be and are missing out on what might be the greatest source of encouragement in your life you could ever find. 

Are you wealthy?  Your first thought when you hear the word “wealthy” is having plenty of money, right?  Yet Paul uses “wealth” to describe the result of being fully assured of the relationship you have with Jesus Christ.  Faith is the assurance of things hoped for (Heb 11:1).  You are wealthy when you have the full assurance of understanding who Christ is.  William MacDonald in Believers Bible Commentary, p. 2000, wrote that the expression “full assurance” is used three times in the New Testament----full assurance of faith (Heb 10:22), full assurance of understanding (Col 2:2) and full assurance of hope (Heb 6:11).

The deeper your understanding of the Christian faith—obtained by Bible study and application, and mutual fellowship with other Christians---the stronger your faith is in practice and the more protected you are against false teaching and other strongholds of the world that potentially could/would lead you astray. 

One last thing……..it is a teaching of Christ that He revealed greater depth of His teaching to those closest to Him.  He taught in parables so that only those closest to Him would eventually understand the deeper truths of those stories.  The mysteries of God—especially the revelation of Jesus Christ—become far less mysterious to those who stay close to Christ through the teaching of the Bible.  Draw near to God and He draws nearer to you (James 4:8).  Always remember this as you continue your spiritual journey for the rest of your life.