Strength and Wisdom

 

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

STRENGTH AND WISDOM

1 Cor 1:18-25

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 man? Where is the scholar? 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 miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 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 man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

NIV

It could not be any plainer than this. So many who do not believe in the authority of the scripture, and thus do not believe in the saving grace of Jesus Christ, think of themselves as intellectuals. In reality, they are living in the dark, void of all truth. They may think they are the wise ones, but they are the foolish ones as declared by God. Education is important as it provides us with knowledge and certain skills that we need in order to obtain certain or abilities we need for whatever profession, position, or trade that we have been called into. So we can say that we may have a certain level of education, but to say that we are wise, or have wisdom is simply foolishness. Having faith does not require education and cannot be obtained through human wisdom. In fact, we cannot even conjure up faith on our own, for the scripture tells us that God gives every man a measure of faith. What is rather interesting is that even within the church it seems that some would admire the intellectuals. What we have to consider is that God can give His wisdom to whoever, however, it seems he gives wisdom to the humble, and to the wise, he gives frustration. No, we need to see that God is the author of wisdom and if we want to be wise, then we will simply believe. Knowing Jesus is the wisest course of action any man can take. Jesus is the wisdom of God and having Christ in our heart gives us the wisdom of God. Yet, we see so many who despise God, refuting the scripture and wanting to take God out of all aspects of life. We do not call those who think themselves wise, scholarly, or philosophers. It is interesting the word philosopher comes from an ancient Greek word that means lover of wisdom. The world is full of those who think more highly of themselves than they should. We see it all around us in the political arena, the entertainment industry, the commentary, and supposed news media, as well as in business and finance. Many of them espousing their form of wisdom. But it is all foolishness to God. We need to simply focus on God, focus on Jesus, being saved, and learning from Him. For when we are weak, God is strong and he gives us His strength and His wisdom.