As we wrap up our series on wisdom, we have seen that the
“beginning or source of wisdom is the fear of God.”
We order our lives based on His character and actions, showing His power, presence, purposes and care for us.
But this view has competition. Our society has different values by which people organize their lives. These values are revealed in phrases like the following: Keep your religion to yourself. I am free to do what I want as long as I don’t hurt anyone else. Who gave you the right to tell others what is right or wrong for them? You have to be yourself and not care what others think. Or in Slovakia we heard this: If you have your health, you have everything.
The natural question is which is right and how do you know? It is not just what is pragmatic, what works, but
“truth corresponds to the way the world is.”
What explains best, what evidence is shown, what we experience and what works too.
God is not afraid of the marketplace of ideals and actually challenges people to bring forward their best case and compare this with God’s.
We all swim in a culture that has other values and we need to know and be convinced of God’s wisdom.
The believers in Corinth also were struggling here. In such a large, metropolitan city, they were exposed to many different philosophies and Paul wrote to shore up their trust in God’s ways and wisdom. We too can be encouraged here and be better equipped to talk to others about the Lord as we study 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5.
Who is playing the fool?
18 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. 19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
20 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? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, (1 Corinthians 1:18-23)
Here we see how God's ideas and those of society are not only opposite but perceived very differently.
The world sees the cross as foolish because it cannot comprehend it.
We who believe know it is God’s power as we have experienced it first hand.
Society’s best thinkers actually show their foolishness. How? Because their ways never get to God or really even fulfill their own goals. A good example is the Slovak saying about health. It gives no hope as all get sick and die. It is cruel to those with chronic conditions. We have no control over so much of our lives and finally, we know that health is not all that we need in life.
God contrasts all of man’s efforts for self-improvement with the message to only believe in Christ and His sacrifice on the cross.
The Jews valued action but could not see how a weak Savior accomplished anything. They also counted on their obedience to make them right with God. The cross obliterated both ideas.
The Greeks valued elevated thought and a dying savior on a cross was nonsense to them. Only criminals are crucified. Belief also was too simple and plain.
These are representative of many types of philosophies that rely on self-effort but prove to be ineffective and therefore foolish.
Wisdom of God’s ways
24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 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.
28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
1 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power (1 Corinthians 1:24-2:5).
The message of the cross is that Christ is the power and wisdom of God.
He fulfills the longing of the Jews and Greeks far better than what they actually could ever achieve on their own. By being united with Christ, we have His wisdom and life in us, a wisdom closer and more personal than any could imagine.
Plus, we have a righteousness based on Him, which is so much more than any works I could do to be right with God. As a result, we can only boast in the Lord for all He has done. We just receive it and don’t add anything to it.
Our own lives confirm this as God’s way. We don’t come to God because we are so smart. Many times it is those who are disenfranchised by the world that seek Him. But those the world has rejected, God can make as examples of His power and wisdom as they trust in Christ. They reach what the world cannot.
Paul’s ministry also shows this pattern. He of all people could have stressed his abilities but instead elevated Christ and His sacrifice. He was real and weak, timid, and his delivery was plain. He relied on God’s Spirit to work in Him so all who believed would have their faith in God and not on him.
“God worked to bring about His work in His way.”
So we can trust God’s wisdom in the cross. The world around us will never be favorable to us but we can be encouraged because we believe the truth.
God’s power and wisdom has been displayed in His Son and in our lives. He has called us to share this with others who will listen and trust in Him. As we reflect Him, even in our weakness, God can use us to accomplish His purposes.
