DEVOTION
THE 1ST
LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS
KNOWING 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
This could not be any plainer
then if it were broadcast on every social media outlet every day. Why do men
always look to the amount of education they have as a symbol of their intelligence.
We are so tired of hearing what degrees a person has, or their titles, boasting
about their knowledge. God has made it so clear that he will frustrate the wise
man. In fact, the question is asked as to where is the wise man? Where is the
scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? God has made all the wisdom of their
world foolishness. Now, there is a difference between the world’s wisdom and that
of God’s wisdom being poured out among his people. Paul is making the
distinction between those who look to the power of God through Jesus Christ and
those who have rejected any concept of the truth of God for their own self-proclaimed
wisdom, which is simply foolishness to God. It is clear that the cross of Christ
is a stumbling block to those who look to their own power. We recall a famous
person who became a governor of a state that make the remark that Christianity
is a crutch for weak-minded people. How foolish he was to think that his or
humanity's wisdom was greater than God’s. However, what is Paul talking about when
he says the Jews demand miraculous signs? We understand regarding the Greeks
who look for wisdom, for this whole idea is about the wisdom of the world being
foolishness to God and that even the foolishness of God, if there is such a thing,
is wiser the man’s wisdom. But why did Paul bring in the Jews into this discussion?
Can we understand they did have a faith in God, they were the chosen people,
however, they also rejected the power of the cross of Christ, in fact, many of
them made it their goal to put Christ on the cross. Still, many who followed
after him were always looking for a display of his power. We wonder, as Christians
of today if we look for some display of his power. We also wonder if we have replaced
God’s wisdom with man’s education in biblical studies. Are we trying to appear
wise in the eyes of man, rather then confessing our weakness, and living by his strength? Is it not through
the power of the Spirit who dwells within us that we receive the wisdom of God.
Why then do we look to the wisdom of man? Why are we expected to be educated by
man’s teachings regarding biblical wisdom? Most denominations demand a level of
education to approve licensing someone to preach in their churches. In past
years some denominations made fun of those men who confessed they were
revelation preachers. That is with no formal training or education from some
bible school, they proclaimed their knowledge came through a revelation from
God. Have we lost looking for a revelation from God and are looking toward our
education, thinking we have attained wisdom? Let us simply look to God and His
wisdom as we listen to that still small voice within, as the Spirit inspires us.
Then we will know the wisdom of God.
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