Wisdom is Folly

As time goes on, the world seems determined to wipe out their need for God. Through laws and "civil rights" movements and protests, humans seem hell bent on creating a world that is saturated in sinful behaviors and godlessness. They (we) hide behind this idea that if we think it feels right, who are we to judge what is supposedly right and wrong? Freedom of religion is only accepted as long as someone's faith and beliefs aren't telling you you're wrong, then "tolerance" for religion is thrown out the window and Christians are made out to be narrow-minded fools. The problem is, narrow-mindedness on some things is evidence of what has saved my unworthy soul.

Without getting political, I simply want to relay the message that Paul was giving in the opening chapters of 1 Corinthians. "For the wisdom of the world is folly with God" (3:19). How silly we must look to him, battling for things that we believe are so important and how "wise" and "accepting of others" we feel when we participate in the ways of the world. All the while, I can see God shaking his head, in pain, yes, but also is chuckling disbelief. "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men" (1:25).

YouTube and America's Funniest Home Videos are tributes to the foolishness and stupidity of the human race. We laugh at each others foolishness, yet we don't realize that our supposed "wisdom" looks just as foolish to God as the man who thought he could do a flip on a dirt bike off a flimsy homemade ramp. Oh, I'm sure he thought it all out and made his best judgments on the best placement on the ramp and how fast he may need to go and yada yada yada...but he still pulls out the narrow strip of plywood and expects nothing bad will happen to him. In all our thought wisdom, we look just as stupid to God!

Fortunately for those who believe, there is hope in the second part of that verse when we are told "...the weakness of God is stronger than men". Even when we fail, and even when we don't feel strong enough to stand up against the foolishness of the world any longer, God, even at his weakest (as if God were to ever be weak), is still stronger than the worlds strongest body and mind!

Humanity has come to believe that it can solve all of its problems apart from the God who made us. We have come to believe that it is we who are in charge of our "destiny" and "fate". It is we who determine our steps and decide where we go. But all of this is speaking directly against what God has said in His Word! It is GOD who directs our steps. We have the decision to follow or not, it's true. But God has the power to intervene whenever he chooses. Think about it. We are completely and entirely powerless. We are flimsy and pathetic. We are fools. Yet we strut around the earth proclaiming that our advances in science and technology and "political reason" have separated us from the need to be under God's supervision. But, "the fire will test what sort of work each one has done" (3:13).

Oh Lord, please deliver me from the sins and the folly of the world. Do not allow me to stumble on their false wisdom. You have set me apart for a greater purpose than this. Give me the strength to endure when I have none left for myself. Lay my path before me and teach me to trust in You each step that I take.

"And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'"

1 Corinthians 1:30-31