Are you wise?

“Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” 1 Corinthians 1:20b. Think about the wisdom of the world, this modern world. Is anything really any better than say, any time period in the past? We have the same old problems. We are more comfortable and supposedly so great. Ever noticed man’s wisdom, how it’s nice to sit around and talk. Think of all the talk shows, from daytime talk shows to politics to sports. What can they do? Nothing. Have they ever really solved man’s biggest problem? Sin. We need the forgiveness of sin and man’s wisdom could never do that. With man’s wisdom we have no change, just more sophistication of man’s philosophy.  

1 Corinthians 1:21 “For since, the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” What is foolish to the world, the cross. This is the pinnacle of the contrast, the so called wisdom of the world thinks and knows wisdom, but it does and knows nothing of divine wisdom. The second part of Romans 1:16 says, “for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” This does not mean you don’t have questions or periods of unbelief.

​I think of Job, God allowed Satan to test him and Job started asking all sorts of questions about life and God answered him. You can read those answers at the end of Job. Job responds to how God answered him in Job 42:2-3, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” In reality we know nothing compared to God. I think of the man when Jesus was going to heal his son, Jesus asked him, do you believe? The man answered “I do believe, help my unbelief”.

​It is ok to ask questions, but we can’t get to the point where we think we are in the place of God or we think we can figure out the mind of God. Romans 11:33-34; Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways? “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? “ The Gospel is God saving sinners only through His son Jesus, just believe it and accept it, the only saving power of true wisdom.

​Paul Selby