"I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor
the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men
of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth
to them all." (Ecclesiastes 9: 11)
"The wise" in this world are fools, because they trust in their own intellect, in their own senses and common sense to discern matters which are spiritual:
"22Professing themselves
to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory
of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to
birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things." (Romans 1: 22-23)
Can anything be more unseemly and foolish than worshipping an animal and calling it "Lord"?
Yet to this day, modern intellects have done just that, yet instead of worship gods, they worship the state, or they revere the esteem of men at the expense of the eternal truth.
Being smart is not enough. To be well-versed and advised in the ways of the world invites failure and folly:
"Blessed is the
man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of
sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
"But his delight
is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." (Psalm 1: 1-2)
"The counsel of the ungodly" is the wit and "wisdom" of the world. The traditions of the elders, the suggestions from co-workers which are not based in Scripture.
"Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the
disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" (1 Corinthians 1: 20)
and
"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He
taketh the wise in their own craftiness." (1 Corinthians 3: 19)
In fact, anything from the world is a sure bet to fail:
"And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this
world passeth away." (1 Corinthians 7:31)
and
"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of
God abideth for ever." (2 John 2: 17)
The will of God is that we grow in grace and knowledge of Him (2 Peter 3: 18)
The more that we know Jesus, the more wisdom we receive, among other wonderful gifts:
"But of him are
ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and
sanctification, and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1: 30)
Being smart is not enough. Being in Christ grants us wisdom, along with the gifts of righteousness and grace for all that we need.