Paul is not trying to cut down smart people here. He's trying to say that just because someone is smart and powerful doesn't mean you should follow them. Remember he just spoke to us about divisions in the church and now he is sharing how we stray through these divisions.
All it takes sometimes is for someone famous or popular to take a platform and we are all wishing we were there friend, or could get an opportunity to talk to them, touch them, have them sign an autograph, get them to follow us on social media. They are in the midst of all the famous people, having dinners at the most extravagant places, they have the nicest cars, the best clothes and the coolest friends. We think they are smart and amazing because they can play sports, or sing, or make tons of money on the market, they can sell houses, invent new technology, get a group of people to work together, or they can lead our country. We will listen to whatever they say. We believe whatever they ask. We will buy things with their names on it, because we want to follow. But what is it your following?
Paul is trying to point out that the only thing that matters is living for God. Job said it and Solomon said it, and now Paul is trying to state the same. There is nothing on this world that is worth following or investing in unless it has a Christ center. God knows all, there is no one higher, no one greater, and nothing that should take his place.
If you are feeling like a nobody, take a look at those that God chooses to do his ministry. Do you see rich people shouting from their door steps that Christ loves and blesses them? Do you see our Presidents and leaders sharing the gospel of Christ and the way to salvation? Do you see Hollywood actors promoting the cross and giving credit to the life that leads to eternal life? You and I both know the answer and we know why. Christ doesn't live in those ways....and those ways are paved with control, greed, envy, temptations, and failure, masked by a robe of "popularity" and many are following.
Paul is simply saying, pay attention. Keep your focus. You were made for so much more than what you believe.
1 Corinthians 1:18-31New International Version (NIV)
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 Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ 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.”
All it takes sometimes is for someone famous or popular to take a platform and we are all wishing we were there friend, or could get an opportunity to talk to them, touch them, have them sign an autograph, get them to follow us on social media. They are in the midst of all the famous people, having dinners at the most extravagant places, they have the nicest cars, the best clothes and the coolest friends. We think they are smart and amazing because they can play sports, or sing, or make tons of money on the market, they can sell houses, invent new technology, get a group of people to work together, or they can lead our country. We will listen to whatever they say. We believe whatever they ask. We will buy things with their names on it, because we want to follow. But what is it your following?
Paul is trying to point out that the only thing that matters is living for God. Job said it and Solomon said it, and now Paul is trying to state the same. There is nothing on this world that is worth following or investing in unless it has a Christ center. God knows all, there is no one higher, no one greater, and nothing that should take his place.
If you are feeling like a nobody, take a look at those that God chooses to do his ministry. Do you see rich people shouting from their door steps that Christ loves and blesses them? Do you see our Presidents and leaders sharing the gospel of Christ and the way to salvation? Do you see Hollywood actors promoting the cross and giving credit to the life that leads to eternal life? You and I both know the answer and we know why. Christ doesn't live in those ways....and those ways are paved with control, greed, envy, temptations, and failure, masked by a robe of "popularity" and many are following.
Paul is simply saying, pay attention. Keep your focus. You were made for so much more than what you believe.
1 Corinthians 1:18-31New International Version (NIV)
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 Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ 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.”
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