SGs - Word of Wisdom

What is a Word of Wisdom?

See the following Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 12:8

This spiritual gift is a special revelation from the Lord to an individual that the rest of the body is not privy to. It is closely associated with the next gift listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8, word of knowledge. Two examples: first, the congregation is considering a building project that exceeds the financial ability of the group so they consider taking a huge debt to finance the project and the person(s) gifted with the word of knowledge speaks God's counsel from the Bible about debt to the congregation. Second, a small group at church is considering methods of evangelizing as a team and after the small group evaluates several options, the one gifted with the word of knowledge senses the Lord's direction towards one method, he communicates his burden and the team implements that method with great success.

In these two examples, the first is God's will communicated in Scripture. All are privy to His wisdom but the gifted one is the one whom the Spirit "reminds." Wisdom often is taking truth and being able to apply that truth to a particular situation. Often the practical implications are much more sophisticated than my given example. The second ecample is God's will which is not communicated in Scripture. God does want us to evangelize, but the technique employed is not. Wisdom is necessary in order to assess which is befitting to the group's situation. What are their skills? Whom do they want to reach? What will hook their audience? What venue is appropriate? All these require wisdom.

Is wisdom a specially revealed object? Is there wisdom available to the gifted person that is not available to any believer? Insofar as there is a spiritual gift with this name, and the text teaches us that "to one is given this, to another is given that... all to the common good of the body of Christ" we must say that the one given this gift is given wisdom beyond that wisdom which is ascertainable to the general Church body.