Not Many Wise - April 28 Readings: 1 Corinthians 1

Today’s Readings

Context

 Paul started a lot of churches. He had great churches like Philippi and Ephesus, who brought him constant joy, who demonstrated the fruit of the Spirit and a passion for the gospel. He had the Bereans who searched the Scriptures to see if what he preached was true. He started churches in Thessalonica, Galatia and all over the Roman world.

And then there was Corinth, the dysfunctional family of God. We can deduce that Paul wrote 4 letters to Corinth, two in addition to two we have in the New Testament. One he referred to as his "painful letter" - which is amazing because 1 and 2 Corinthians were hardly Hallmark Cards.

But in his greeting, which opened the letter of 1 Corinthians, Paul made some amazing statements about the Corinthian church.

I always thank my God for you because of God’s grace given to you in Christ Jesus, 5 that by Him you were enriched in everything—in all speech and all knowledge. 6 In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you, 7 so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful; you were called by Him into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:4-9

Paul spent the rest of the book confronting the sin of the church at Corinth.

• He confronted the disunity and schism that was so prevalent among the Corinthians in chapters 1-4. 
• Chapter 5 addressed the immorality that was not only permitted, but even prized. They were so full of "grace" they arrogantly accepted unrepentant sinners into their fellowship. 
• They brought shame to Christ by taking one another to court, in chapter 6. 
• In the same chapter, Paul returned to the embrace of sexual immorality within the church. 
• Chapter 7 discusses problems in their views of marriage and chapters 8-10 talk about their attitudes toward disputable issues. 
• In chapter 11, Paul discusses both the impropriety in worship at Corinth, especially in regard to gender roles and he also gives a powerful rebuke about their how they profaned the Lord's Supper. 
• Chapters 12-14 delve into their dysfunctional appropriation of spiritual gifts, focusing on self-aggrandizement instead of building up the Body of Christ. 
• Chapter 15 regales the importance of the resurrection in the face of the fact that Corinth was tolerating those who denied this fundamental truth. 

1 Corinthians is all about correcting problems in the church. But in verses 4-9, he affirmed them and the work that God was doing in them. He was thankful for the grace God had given them, which had enriched them in every way. Every problem they had was solvable, not because of their potential but because of the riches of God's grace at work within them. He was confident that they had the spiritual resources that they needed and that God would be faithful and would strengthen them in every way.

He was confident in the work that God was going to do in them. Even in his rebuke, he was encouraging. He was not disdaining them or trying to savage them but was simply trying to help them take a step toward something better. Encouragement is always the foundation for rebuke and correction.

Devotional - Not Many Wise

Wouldn't it be great if LeBron James got saved? Or Angelina Jolie? Or Derek Jeter? Or Bill Gates? Somehow, it makes us feel better when the rich, the famous, the talented or the powerful come to Christ. And it would be great.

But it is not the way that the kingdom of God works. Yes, God has saved some important people - politicians, celebrities, athletes, business - and has used them in his work. But that is not his usual mode of operation.

He is a redeemer, not a talent scout. God does not go around looking for the best and the brightest who can do great things to help him. God selects ordinary people and does extraordinary things through them - by his grace and for his glory.

In one of my favorite passages of Scripture, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, and it spells out exactly who God chooses for his kingdom, and why.

Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful,not many of noble birth. 27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28 God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29 so that no one can boast in His presence. 30 But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.

It was really not a great compliment to the Corinthians, but it is an important point. Not many of them were highly educated or intelligent. God wasn't looking for college professors to populate his kingdom. Not many were powerful. God has all the power the kingdom needs and ours is irrelevant to him. God did not choose many among the nobility. Human distinctions tend to lead to pride and that hinders the work of God. 

No, God chose the foolish things to make the smart look stupid. He chose what is weak so that he could demonstrate his power through them. He chose that which the world disdains as insignificant and used them to bring the rich and influential to their knees. 

He makes his reasons for this clear as well, listing two reasons that are actually sides of the same coin. He designs things so that we, his redeemed, are left totally without cause for boasting. I am nothing except what God makes me and can do nothing except that which he empowers. Why would I boast? It all comes from God and he deserves the praise. 

But boasting should take place in the lives of the redeemed - boasting in Christ and about Christ. It borders on the blasphemous for me to boast in myself, but it is also wrong to fail to brag on the amazing work of Christ's grace. 

The kingdom of God is not about us, our talents, abilities and efforts. It is about God and what he can do in us and through us. 

Father, it is all about your Son! He paid for my sins and gave me life. You chose me for your glory, to doing your work in me. For that I praise you today.

Think and Pray

Do you judge people on human terms or as Jesus did, on the basis of Christ's work?
Do you boast in yourself or the work of Christ in you?