May 16
“Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men,” 1 Corinthians 1:20-25.
With a few questions, the apostle Paul exposes the world’s wisdom as being foolishness when compared to the wisdom of God. Where are all of the wise people in the world? What has happened to all of the enlightened and learned Greeks of ancient days? Add to the wise people of ancient days the learned and educated intellectuals of our day, and what must you conclude? Oh, there are living conveniences and luxuries available now that often make our lives more comfortable and enjoyable. Yet, at the same time, wise and learned people have produced some of the most life-destroying weapons that fill people with fear, such as the atomic and hydrogen bombs!
However, when we consider all the combined efforts of the wise people’s works and teachings, they have not succeeded in saving a single soul to enjoy the eternal glories of heaven! In His divine wisdom, God created the world and everything that is in it. From the creation of the world, God’s invisible attributes, His divine wisdom and power, are clearly seen, so that people are without excuse for their failure to recognize Him (Romans 1:20-21). However, with all their accumulated knowledge, the people of the world do not know the one true God, and multitudes refuse to acknowledge Him as the Creator and the gracious God who sent His only begotten Son into the world to redeem sinners one and all. Today, many people are still walking in the footsteps of the Jews and Greeks, seeking signs and following human wisdom.
In view of all of this human futility, what do we as Christians do? “We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” Our calling is to proclaim the one saving message for all sinners. God in His wisdom sent the Savior, who fulfilled the Commandments in our place with His holy life. He took our sins upon Himself and went the way of the cross, where He suffered and died to redeem us. He rose from the grave and conquered sin, death, and the devil for us. People will reject this message, but to us who believe and trust in Jesus, it is the power of God unto salvation. To people who scoff and laugh at the message of God, we say, “The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men!”
“O Lord, my God! When I, in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art.
And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in –
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.” Amen.