The Foolishness of God
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1 Corinthians 1:18-31
18. For the word of the cross is folly 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, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart." 20. Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21. For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23. but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24. but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26. For consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth; 27. but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, 28. God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29. so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption; 31. therefore, as it is written, "Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord."
This world just doesn’t make sense sometimes! There is so much going on that is disturbing, sad, frightening, silly and downright bizarre! And how are we, as Christians, supposed to contend and compete with all this craziness? How are we to live our lives and go about our business, do our jobs and raise our children, live like we’re saved and practice Christian morals and values? Well, these verses make it pretty clear—not that it’s easy—just clear to those of us who have heard the good news!
“The world” cannot comprehend a humble servant, preaching love, kindness, hope and forgiveness! “The world” can’t understand a philosophy of life that advocates against fighting back and getting even. “The world” can’t understand that we do not live without hope and without fear of the future! “The world” looks at us and thinks that we’re the ones who are mad! We’re the ones who don’t have a clue! We’re the ones who just don’t “get it!”
But we are not of this world. We are strangers and sojourners, remember?! We love because Christ loved us. We are kind and gentle, because that is how love is appropriately demonstrated. We don’t need to glorify ourselves, because we are God’s glorious creations and we don’t need the world’s approval or affirmation. We have hope in the future, because we know what awaits us at the end of time. We don’t need to “get mad” or “get even” because our battle has already been won for us – on the cross.
We must seem mad to this world full of corruption and greed. We certainly appear crazy we make a choice to live within our means, and without jealousy for what others have. We look like fools when we don’t live up to the “You’re fired” or “Fear Factor” or “Survivor” mentality of demeaning competitors in the most detestable ways imaginable, using any means. We choose to live in peace, take a stand on moral issues, volunteer in our community, serve at church, pray, worship, and honor our Lord and Savior.
God chose the world’s foolishness to show His wisdom! If you look around and see what can be accomplished when people are challenged to be at their best – in response to a horrible disaster like the tsunami – God is telling us, “See what you are capable of accomplishing?!” He wants us to understand that no matter what happens, He is with us, in us, and works through us—if we’ll only allow Him into our hearts and minds. He is the source of our life, and worshiping him by how we live is our only purpose on this earth.
If we weigh every decision we make based on that presumption, we will certainly spend eternity in heaven, worshiping at the feet of God, in brotherhood with His son, caught up by the Holy Spirit!
I hope you’ll join me today, looking ahead to the rapture, living like I believe it will come! And that you scoff at the world’s wisdom, knowing that God is the source of all wisdom, knowledge and truth.
Mary
