1 Corinthians

Sunday, 11 May 2014

Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: 1 Corinthians 3:21

“Therefore” is now stated for consideration of what he has been considering throughout the entire chapter. Paul is moving from his argument into an exhortation to those in Corinth (and thus to us who read this epistle). However, his following words are some of the most disregarded in the entire letter – “let no one boast in men.”

It is with the greatest note of sadness that this simple sentence has gone almost completely unheeded in Christianity. Catholics boast in the pope; Lutherans boast in Luther; Calvinists boast in Calvin; modern followers of prophecy boast in individual analysts; people cling to TV evangelists and preachers as if they possessed the source of wisdom and knowledge. And yet… they are just people serving in a limited capacity for a limited time and their analyses are merely attempts to explain what has already been given.

Paul exhorts each of us to not boast in any man. Instead, let him who boasts, boast in the Lord. Anything other than this merely diminishes what should be the sole and complete focus of our attention, Jesus Christ. In order to explain this, he follows up with an argument for his exhortation by stating “For all things are yours.” This will be expanded upon in the verses ahead; it is not a stand alone thought that we can run with and claim all-knowledge or all authority in and of ourselves. Instead, it is a precursor to what he will next explain.

Life application: It is commendable to recognize a sound theologian, commentator, preacher, evangelist, etc. But Paul warns us that we are not to boast in that individual. Be careful to heed these words lest your eyes be misdirected away from the Lord.

I will fix my eyes on You, O Lord. My heart will be steadfast in my devotion to You, my God. Throughout my days, I will think on You, meditate on Your word, and speak of Your goodness to others. And when I get misdirected, please nudge me back onto the right way once again. You are my All in all and I wish to proclaim You – only You! Amen.

Saturday, 10 May 2014

…and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 1 Corinthians 3:20

Again, Paul returns to Scripture to confirm the point he has been making. This is a citation from Psalm 94:11. Directly quoted, it says this –

“The Lord knows the thoughts of man,
That they are futile.”

The substitution of “wise” instead of “men” is intended for those he has been speaking of who hold to the wisdom of the world without including God in their thoughts. The word he uses for “thoughts” is comparable to “reasonings.” In other words, the search for the knowledge of things is futile when people do it apart from understanding that God is the ultimate Cause of all things.

A perfect example of this in the 21st century is the scientific study going on at CERN – the Large Hadron Collider which is on the Franco-Swiss border near Geneva. At this immense facility is a 27 kilometer long ring of superconducting magnets with accelerating structures to boost energy. These are used to bring matter close to the speed of light and smash it into other matter going in the opposite direction. In their research, they are attempting to find “the God-particle.”

They believe that by finding a particular particle which results from this type of collision, they will be able to answer all of the questions concerning the creation of the universe. On their website, they begin by asking this –

“What is the universe made of? How did it start? Physicists at CERN are seeking answers, using some of the world’s most powerful particle accelerators.”

Rather than approaching their studies from the presupposition that there is a God and their research will help us to understand how God does things, they leave Him out of the equation. The ultimate answer, therefore, will always elude them and they will be kept from what they desire most. Someday, at the judgment of man unless they call on Christ first, they will be eternally separated from Him, but they will know that He exists. Thus, they will spend eternity lacking contact with what they now realize to be the truth. It is a sad thought, but it is the state of unregenerate man.

Life application: Without God, the smartest person is just a dolt, but with God, the least intelligent chap is a true genius. Be really smart; call on Christ!

I would rather be shunned by the brightest and best of this world than to be without Jesus. Thank You, O God, for Jesus. Hallelujah and Amen.

Friday, 9 May 2014

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”;1 Corinthians 3:19

As has been noted time and again in this epistle, care needs to be taken to ensure context is maintained. Without considering the surrounding thoughts, incorrect ideas about what is being discussed will naturally arise. The verse begins with “for” which asks us to consider what has been said in order to make the connection with the rest of the initial thought. Paul has been speaking about building upon the foundation, which is Christ, and that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

“For” then asks us to consider that in context with “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” This has nothing to do with appropriate studies of science, medicine, astronomy, geology, or any other discipline which God gave us the intelligence to pursue. For example, because of botany, we have grafts of hearty fruits which can withstand drought-like conditions and attacks by insects or other pests. We have flowers that bloom in a wild array of colors and durations that are not found in the natural world.

God is not asking believers to set aside their brains in this world. Cults and misguided sects ignorantly don’t use medicine which has been developed by man and thus they bring on themselves prolonged sicknesses and even premature death. This type of bad analysis is inevitable when context isn’t considered. But it is not what Paul is speaking of.

The “wisdom of the world” is speaking of that wisdom which excludes Christ in any of its considerations. If a scientist looks for natural explanations to the ultimate questions of life, science, or philosophy, then he will never find the correct answers to his questions, because God is the Source of all such wisdom. Johannes Kepler wisely said, “Science is thinking God’s thoughts after Him.” This then is wisdom. Without such an attitude, any pursuit of wisdom “is foolishness with God.”

To build upon and validate this notion, Paul turns to Scripture and cites a portion of Job 5:13. “For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness.'”

The word “catches” conveys the idea of grabbing with the fist. It is intended to express the notion that no matter what they pursue, apart from including God in the equation, they will never truly get away from the bonds which shackle them. They are pursuing ultimate knowledge, but they are bound by limitations which hinder their ability to discern it.

Life application: When contemplating anything of substance, include God in your thoughts. He is the purpose, hope, goal, and end-point of all we could ever consider. Keep Jesus Christ in the equation and the numbers will always add up as they should!

Daily I rise and go about my life
But without including the Lord, no true purpose exists
Instead of peace, my soul only finds strife
As I attempt to accomplish my scholarly lists

And so, Lord God, help me never to do a thing in this life without including You in the process. Help me never to forget that the wisdom of the world is mere foolishness to You. But in Christ, all things make sense – pleasure time or while at work; study time or simply thinking about the beauty around me – all of it has no purpose unless it includes the One who gave it all to me. Help me always to consider You, O God. Amen.

Thursday, 8 May 2014

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 1 Corinthians 3:18

In chapters 1 & 2, Paul spoke in detail about human wisdom in contrast to spiritual wisdom. There we saw that true spiritual wisdom will always be centered on the Person and work of Jesus Christ. In chapter 1 we read this –

“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, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.'”1 Corinthians 1:18, 19

Now returning to this thought concerning wisdom, after having discussed our building upon the foundation which is Christ, he reminds us the importance of the materials we use by beginning with, “Let no one deceive himself.” Self-deception is an enormous problem. When people are puffed up with pride and are unwilling to focus on (or properly handle) the word of God, they will delude themselves concerning it.

A great example of this is when a person is asked a question to which they have no answer. Instead of saying, “I don’t know” they will often start theorizing in their own mind, looking for anything that sounds acceptable so that they don’t sound uneducated. In this, they begin to deceive themselves and thus deceive others in the process. Paul speaks about this type of thing in 2 Timothy 3:13 –

“But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”

Anytime we depart from the truth of Christ as revealed in Scripture, we head immediately in a perverse direction. However, this isn’t limited to Christians with bad theology. It permeates the world of academia. It is more than common to invent fine sounding arguments concerning issues to which the specialists have no idea about and no answer to. Instead, they make up things in their head in order to sound wise and they carry many along in their deceit.

Paul gives a remedy for this when he says, “If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.” Rather than “seeming wise” by professing a wisdom other than Christ, the wisest course of all is to “become a fool.” This means that taking the direction of Christ and running with the knowledge of Christ is foolishness to the world. When someone takes that direction, they are counted as a fool. But in reality, they have made the wisest choice of all because their instruction comes from the true Source of wisdom, God. In this, one will “become a fool that he may become wise.”

What seems contradictory to the rest of the world is the soundest course of all. In Christ, there is an eternal fount of wisdom, reason, intelligence, and splendor. Apart from Him, there is only vain imaginings and self-deceit which results in the deceiving of others. It is an eternally sad choice to make.

Life application: New religious expressions pop up daily. Old religions are revived and reinstated as supposed sources of enlightenment. Philosophies are held in high esteem because they question reality or the ability to truly know anything. All such things seem wise to the world, but they are foolishness to God. On the contrary, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the true wisdom of God and in it all other machinations of man are made utterly foolish. Stand firm on the gospel of Christ and know that God is pleased with you looking “foolish” to the rest of the world!

Lord God, I’d rather be a fool in the eyes of the world while standing on the gospel of Christ than to have all the accolades, honors, and awards that the world can tempt me with. I’d rather be the lowest worker in Your heavenly kingdom, than the smartest philosopher in hell. I’d rather be crucified next to my Lord, than die in peace in a bed of feathers and silk sheets if that meant losing You. Lord, use me, Your lowly servant, until I am used up. And then Lord, take me home to Your glorious place of rest. Amen.