One of the problems in the Corinthian church was that worldly wisdom had crept in; today, we will see how Paul addressed it.
“Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; 20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” 21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.”
1 Corinthians 3:18-23 NIV
Question 1. What instruction did Paul give the Corinthians who desired to be “wise by the standards of this age”?
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Worldly wisdom is as old as the Garden of Eden when Satan cast doubt on God’s Word and tempted Adam and Eve to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. That tree, thought Eve, was not only “good for food” and “pleasing to the eye,” but also “desirable for gaining wisdom” (Genesis 3:6).
Satan spoke directly against God’s Word and deceived Eve. And still today, the “wisdom of the age” deceives and leads to death. It always tells us we are missing something, even as Satan suggested Adam and Eve lacked the knowledge that would help them understand their lives, give them fullness and satisfaction, and become more like God.
This is why Paul writes: “All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God”.
Satan wants us to think we are missing something vital, but God assures us that “all things are yours!”; or, as the original Greek puts it, “all yours!”
Again, Paul runs to the Old Testament to prove his point about worldly wisdom. He quotes Job 5:13, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” which depicts God as a hunter who catches the worldly-wise in their craftiness like snaring an animal in a trap. There’s no abundant life in being crafty and worldly-wise.
Paul goes on to quote Psalm 94:11, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” The word “futile” means empty, void, nothing. We should understand then that there is zero spiritual value in listening to any “wisdom” void of the cross of Christ.
With the gospel filter, it becomes simpler to discern God’s wisdom versus worldly wisdom. Worldly wisdom is directly opposite of God’s Word and tells you you’re missing something. God’s wisdom tells you that, in Christ, you have it all because “you are of Christ” and He purchased it for you with His blood. Therefore, “no more boasting about human leaders”, for you have all of them, they are “all yours!”
Yes, you get it all when you receive the good news of Christ crucified; when you believe it is for you, and take a stand on it (1 Corinthians 15:1-7). Just think of it: Jesus gave up all things to make you His, and to make everything “all yours!” “...though he was rich, yet for your sake, he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). By impoverishing Himself on the cross for us, He has “enriched us in every way” (1 Corinthians 1:5), so that to have Christ is to have everything.
Here’s God’s instruction to us who want to live and grow in the gospel: “You should become ‘fools’ so that you may become wise.” This truth invites us to turn from worldly wisdom though it might make us appear foolish in the eyes of some so that we can become truly and eternally wise through the message of “wisdom and power,” the gospel. We lose to win; we give up to gain; we die to live. “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).
Question 2. Have you ever felt you were missing something and turned from Jesus to try to find it? Please share.
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If you have been looking to worldly wisdom, thinking it will help you become satisfied or fulfilled in some way, will you come to the cross and see Jesus' love for you and turn back to Him? I pray that you will.