Wisdom and Foolishness

Chuckle: A minister was asked by a politician, "What can the government do to help the church?" The minister replied, "Quit making one dollar bills."

Quote: "There is a deep wisdom inaccessible to the wise and prudent but disclosed to babes." --Christopher Bryant

WISDOM AND FOOLISHNESS

"I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God. . . So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world's brilliant debaters? God has made them look foolish and has shown their wisdom to be useless nonsense. Since God in his wisdom saw that the world would never find him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save all who believe" (1 Corinthians 1:18, 20-21 NLT).

I feel totally inadequate to even comment on this passage which was penned by the apostle Paul. The message is so abundantly clear that it's a mystery how its central truth is missed, ignored, or discredited by so many in our modern-day world. It seems many have a difficult time recognizing any wisdom greater than their own -- even if described in God's Word.

In the ancient Jewish culture, the minds of the "wise" were made up and their mindset was that the long-awaited Messiah would come as a reigning monarch and would restore the earthly throne of King David, free them from the yoke of rule by other nations, and perform great signs and miracles.

Instead, Jesus came as an humble servant, was executed like a common criminal, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and rose from the dead the third day. The "wise" of that day could not understand God's plan for the redemption of mankind. Jesus came to die as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins and to establish his kingdom in the hearts of those who trust him by faith, not for those who try to earn salvation with good deeds and human wisdom.

We can spend our lifetimes trying to accumulate the wisdom of this world and never achieve the essential for eternal salvation, a personal saving relationship with Jesus Christ. "Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn your back on evil" (Proverbs 3:7 NLT).

Those who are truly wise understand that a personal relationship with Christ demonstrates the greatest wisdom anyone can have. Jesus said, "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way" (Matthew 11:25-26 NLT).

James tells us that wisdom from heaven “is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17 NIV). How do you and I measure up in this test of heavenly wisdom?

Love, Jerry & Dotse