Day 43: 1 Corinthians 3:18

“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.”



In Paul’s day, the big thing was wisdom. The Greeks had elevated philosophy above everything else. Their sophists were regarded as the smartest teachers around, and all who sat at their feet were considered to be wise. This wisdom conflicted greatly with the wisdom of God. As we know, God has ordered the universe and His kingdom to fly in the face of the world’s wisdom.


In this environment, these two very different kinds of wisdom were clashing. The Greeks, considering themselves wise, could not see the wisdom of God.


Paul says here that those who consider themselves wise in the world won’t be able to get the wisdom of God, so the worldy wise need to become what they would consider a fool, so that God may give them wisdom.


We are no different today than the Greeks in Paul’s day. We believe that we are the best educated, most ethically and morally advanced people in the world. We believe that we are at the pinnacle of civilization. And still, just as back then, God is calling us to be considered fools by the world’s standards so that God may give us His wisdom.


So many times we let things like science, logic, ethics, and religion get in the way of the wisdom of God. Because it is more accepted to do so, we try to reconcile the two (many people did that in Paul’s day, as well). The result is predictable, and sad. We miss the mark. Sometimes we miss the mark so far that we miss salvation.


The wisdom of God is not found in the world, it’s teachers, it’s schools, or it’s media. The wisdom of God is found in the gospel, and in the Bible. Learning this wisdom may make you seem like a fool to many, but in God and His people, you have found family.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: Worldly wisdom and Godly wisdom are not the same thing. In order to follow God’s wisdom, we will have to look like fools to the rest of the world.


Here is a set of Verses to meditate on today: Acts 27


Prayer: Father, help me to discern what is the world’s wisdom and what is yours. I denounce the wisdom of the world, no matter the consequences. I want your wisdom. Thank you for being faithful and giving it to me. In Christ’s name, amen.