Weekly Devotional 7-15-13 Wisdom!
The wisdom of the world is nothing more than folly if it doesn’t lead one to God and His anointed Jesus Christ. For it is in them that man’s redemption lies. This was Paul’s message to the Corinthian church and, indirectly, to all who would hear it or read the letter in which it is contained. That the letter was written to Christians is affirmed by his salutation, “1Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:1-3 KJV). They had been called by God to be saints (born again persons) and set apart from the world to serve and worship Christ. However, as in all churches, the wisdom of the world challenges Godly wisdom and when it gains the upper hand even “born again” Christians begin adopting philosophies and practices that are not respectful of God which results in divisions and ungodliness.
To counter this Paul wrote, “26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31KJV).
The wisdom of the world tends to discredit God and tends to elevate man. But, God said, “not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called” (vs. 26). Paul wrote that the wisdom of the world rejects man’s only path to salvation, which is the cross of Jesus, but Godly wisdom leads to it. Consider, “18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV ).
In His wisdom God has secured man’s salvation in and through Jesus Christ because it could not be accomplished any other way. A rejection of that truth ends in damnation, but the acceptance of it leads to salvation and everlasting life. According to God Himself, the wisdom of the world leads man away from Him, but the wisdom that is found in Him draws man to Him. Paul asks, “20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?”. And then answers,“21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord”1 Corinthians 1:20-31 (KJV).
I pray that you have or will, in humility, accept the wisdom that comes from God and reject the wisdom of the world.
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