Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations–1 Corinthians 3:19-20

Posted by Seth on Aug 6, 2009 in Theology |

Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations–1 Corinthians 3:19-20

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Welcome to Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations covering 1 Corinthians 3:19-20. Here we learn to seek wisdom from the Source and consider all other wisdom futile.

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.”

We can’t win against God. If we say that we are wise through life experiences, the reading of many books, time spent in deep thought, and a high IQ, God says in return, “Sorry, Charlie.” Trying to claim wisdom apart from its Source is like trying to hydrate oneself with vapors rising from a fresh spring on a hot summer’s day; it’s folly. The reasons for our foolishness as humans are probably deeper than can be fully understood, but it seems that there is a divide in the questions that are asked when pursuing wisdom. Those seeking only worldly wisdom ask the question: “What works?” But those seeking heavenly wisdom want to know, “What’s right?” To be sure, when we look at the answers to these questions, there is often a good amount of overlap, just as the vapor is related to the stream. But the the rub comes when we consider the ultimate sources from which wisdom is gained. One side says that the source is fluid, that it can be whatever science and reason seems to point to, the conclusions belonging to man upon their discovery and for shaping according to his fancy. The other side says that the Source is solid and unchanging and that when wisdom is found, it still belongs to the Source and can only be built upon by coming back to the starting place for more information.

From God’s perspective, independent wisdom-claimers are crafty, possessing futile thoughts. They are willing to form clever word chains, conveniently and covertly skip problematic steps, and then present the conclusion as something amazing, new, and novel. This does not only happen in the world; the church is filled with it, and it stinks. In fact, such is the worst kind, with faulty claims being made of possession of the Lord’s blessing. But all the while, the presenter’s conclusions stand far from God’s revealed wisdom.

It comes down to the fact that God puts us in a place we don’t like very much: being needful of Him. We need the God who exercised the strange wisdom of creating us, putting on flesh, and entering death for a crafty, futile-minded people. He won the praise through an unthinkable exercise and we are left humble. Trying to swap these two badges is the practice of worldly wisdom…and it is profoundly wicked.

Lord, each day I find a way to assert myself as wise. There is no room for this. Forgive me. I humbly praise You.

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