KELSIE PETERSEN
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. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.
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? 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. Jews demand signs, and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles, but those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
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. 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. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. 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. Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:18-31)
Not many passages of Scripture strike me like this one does. Maybe it’s the passion I can hear in Paul’s words and imagine in his voice; maybe it’s the stark contrasts that are drawn; maybe it’s remembering what it is like on the inside of Adventism and comparing it to life now, on the outside. Whatever causes it to be so compelling, it is one of a few passages to which I am drawn again and again to remind me of who I am, and of who He is.
Paul instantly draws a stark contrast between wisdom and foolishness, weakness and power. His opening sentence reminds me, all at once, of what I was saved from, and of the true state of those who remain in their sin. I am reminded of how little I once thought of the Cross, but how precious it has become to me since I was born again (while still an Adventist), and even more so in the years since leaving Adventism.
As I look at the state of the world around us, the pace of advancement and change is so incredibly rapid that trying to keep up with it is dizzying.
As I look at the state of the world around us, the pace of advancement and change is so incredibly rapid that trying to keep up with it is dizzying. It seems everywhere we turn, we are being pointed to this intelligent person, or that wise person. Of course, the internet and social media has given platform to nearly anyone who wants one, no matter how wise or intelligent they may (or may not) be. Sometimes it is overwhelming to consider all that is happening around us, but I remind myself that no matter how wise any man in our world today may think he is, his godless wisdom is foolishness in light of the God who holds us in His hand.
Paul next draws out comparison and contrast between the Jews and the Greeks. The Jews looked for the political and monarchal conqueror. The Greeks demanded wisdom and intellect. What they got, however, was a seemingly-conquered rebel and one who claimed He must lay down His life to take it up again. No wonder the Jews couldn’t get past Jesus’ humiliating death, and the Greeks couldn’t make sense of the message.
Paul’s assertion was that, no matter if one was a Jew or a Greek (or anyone else), if one was called by God, then Christ was the power of God in them. In other words, the power the Jews sought through signs and wonders resided in Jesus Himself. Furthermore, Jesus is the wisdom of God.
I need to be reminded that, no matter how lofty my view of God may be, His reality is infinitely MORE lofty.
Wise Foolishness
Paul uses another striking contrast when he states the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. These contrasts paint a powerful picture. We humans seem to think we have reached unprecedented heights in matters of intelligence, in matters of strength and power. It makes me smile a little to know that those of this world who think they have great power or wisdom have not even a microscopic amount, compared to the God that they will not even acknowledge.
Then, the smile is wiped off my face by Paul’s next words. The verb tense he uses here is what simultaneously guts me and renews me inside.
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.”
As I have just been sitting and thinking about how little the wise and strong of this world know of who they are compared to the God of the universe, Paul snaps me right back into reality, reminding me that I was no better, no different. I certainly was not, and am not, wise by human standards. No one would ever accuse me of being influential, and I’m not of noble birth (though I think I might be related to P.T. Barnum’s wife, which won’t count for anything).
Paul reminds me—reminds us—that it is only because we have been chosen by Him that we are anything at all. Moreover, we are merely instruments of HIM. In my foolishness, He chose me. In my weakness, He chose me. In my lowliness, He chose me. In my despised state, He chose me. May I never boast.
But then, in true Paul fashion, he brings it back to Christ.
“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.”
When I think of the depth of those words, the profoundness of their meaning and impact on my life, on my eternal destiny, the smile returns to my face. I smile not because of what any man has done, not because of what I have done, but because of what Christ has done.
After plainly and gently reminding me of what I have been saved from, Paul reminds me of what I have been saved to: to be His vessel, to show the wisdom and might of the Almighty. I don’t know about you, but that makes something inside me sing.
Paul has, in these few short verses, laid bare the state of the world and of those who live in it without God—without Christ. He reminds us of what we, as humans are, and of who He is. He reminds us as believers of where He brought us from, and what He has brought us to. He invites us to boast of Him, to tell of His wonders and of what He has done for us and in us.
Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
- Now I Love Communion - May 25, 2023
- Can You Be an Accidental Christian? - March 30, 2023
- Boast in the Lord! - February 2, 2023