Day 8: 3:18–23 (Boasting in Christ: The Foolishness of Worldly Wisdom)

-  The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God, and those who think they are wise in human terms are actually deceived. Believers are not to rely on human wisdom, but rather boast in the wisdom of God, which is found in Christ. Therefore, believers should focus on God’s wisdom rather than worldly pride or status.


1. SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 3:18-23
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.      

2. OBSERVATIONS :

•   What did this passage mean to its original audience? 

The believers at Corinth had been acting foolishly by placing a greater emphasis on displays of human wisdom than the truth of God’s revelation. The way they were boasting about their preferred spiritual leader (i.e. Paul, Peter, or Apollos) showed that they were more impressed by the wisdom gifts of these men than by the actual truth about the God they were proclaiming. They sought to elevate their own status by attaching themselves to one of these leaders. The situation would be somewhat analogous to a Christian in contemporary church culture attending a certain church, and talking about their affiliation with that church with a sense of pride because of the status of the Pastor.  Paul’s response is that neither he, nor Peter or Apollos are special people who they should consider themselves followers of or belonging to. Rather, Paul, Peter and Apollos belong to Christ just like every other person who wears the label “Christian”.    

• What does this passage reveal about God?
   - God is the source of all true wisdom and any so-called wisdom which does not align with God’s revelation is only foolishness. God is the one to whom we belong. We ought to live as followers of God, not men. 

What does this passage reveal about people?
 -  It is not uncommon for us to go beyond honoring leaders appropriately and to begin to trust in them and honor them more than we trust in and honor Jesus. This elevating of human persons to the place of God often happens in very subtle ways and we are often blind to the fact that we are doing it.

3. APPLICATION: What does this passage impact my affections, attitudes and actions?
 - I need to honor the godly men and women God has placed in my life without ever allowing them to take the place that Jesus occupies in my life as my Savior and Lord.

- My job as a Christian, and also as a spiritual leader, is to point people to Jesus, not to myself. It should be most satisfying to me to see people fall in love with Jesus and become more dependent upon Jesus through my ministry. Any personal praise or commendation should never be sought after.
 
4. PRAYER:
Lord, thank you for the spiritual leaders you have blessed me with. Help me to honor them without worshipping them. Help me to be effective at influencing people to follow you and to never seek to build followers for myself. Help me to lead well, so that Calvary will be known as a church where Jesus is the center of it all!!

Pastor Randy