Foolish Wisdom

“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… we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory… these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.”
(1 Corinthians 1:21-23; 2:7-8; 2:10-13)

We are created to be adventurous explorers, and in the corrective passages of 1 Corinthians, God invites us to plumb the depths of His wisdom, concentrated and revealed in the Person and work of Jesus, the Messiah. We are not the center of this exploration. It does not revolve around us. Instead, our quest orbits the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Revealer, our Guide and Advocate, so we can only explore with effect as we walk with, or “in” the Spirit

Why was Paul so keen about the Spirit leading us into God’s wisdom? Because there is a competing “wisdom” that Paul argues is folly. This worldly wisdom is personified by people like the world’s first newly-minted trillionaire. Most of this planet’s 8.3 billion people are not Elon Musk. The circles they run in are not large or influential. They are ordinary, which is good news when we consider Paul’s account of those who God invites to know the depths and breadth of His wisdom, and how they get to do so:

“I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. 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.’” (1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 1:18-19)

God rewards ordinary run-of-the-mill curiosity, patience, and persistence as we chase down His invitation. He does so using the sometimes puzzling raw material of His Word while it shapes us into people who exemplify Him. We are most blessed when we are shaped by God’s Word and led by His Spirit. This, as much as anything, characterizes Jesus’ People.

So, why do so many folks spend the majority of their energies chasing the Elon Musks of their era? Because they refuse to heed the apostle’s exhortation: 

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2)

The meditations of our mind reveal the values in our heart. When our hearts are remade, reborn from above by the Spirit, we value what God values. We come to appreciate their beauty through committed exploration and discovery. However, when we share the values of this world’s systems, we follow them instead into foolishness. The only cure, the only healing from this folly, is God’s wisdom.

Solomon would know. He wandered down all possible paths to wisdom, and in the end concluded:

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments,...” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

The end of God’s Wisdom is to be captivated by His Son, to be in awe of God’s revelation in Jesus, the Messiah. Moved by loving reverence, we embrace the Son and His commands (“If you love me, keep my commands. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me…” John 14:15 & 21).

So, let us pray that B4 be known as a church that embraces Jesus’ Way and His wisdom:

Love ya! Pastor Steve