Foolishness and Unintelligence

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;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

- 1 Corinthians 1:18-30 NIV

Pastor Stan brought this passage up right in the beginning of the Sunday night service. Now, I don't know about you, but it makes me smile.

In the first paragraph, we see Paul's sense of humor in a way; we're out preaching a foolish message. The eyes of the world see the fact that God created everything and that Jesus died and rose to save everyone as something utterly ridiculous. The intelligent will say, "That can't be right." Even Don Miller, a Christian author, says in his book Blue Like Jazz that, when he thinks about it, the whole "Jesus thing" sounds silly. But, as we all know, the wisdom of man can not be used to find God. One can only find God by being moved by the Spirit and accepting Jesus. Entire Trinity right there.

Next bit:

"The foolishness of God is wiser than a man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than a man's strength."

I know a lot of intelligent people. Some of them are humble. Some don't really care if people notice their smarts. Others, however, like to rub how smart and witty they are in people's faces. I can't stand those kinds of people, mainly because they make me feel stupid because I can't keep up with them. I know I'm not stupid, but I've never really been "smart" per se; like street or book smart, I guess. Well, I might be sort of book smart. You see, my talents lie in art, something that the intelligent are uninterested in because it's not always logical. So I'm viewed as a fool.

However, I have God. And God, even at His stupidest, is smarter than any man. He is also, at his weakest, stronger than any man. Amazing? I would never think of God as "foolish" or "weak," but it's only an expression after all that means that even the smallest bit of God's power and wisdom outmatches any weight lifter or Doctor of Science.

Now, I'm gonna point out the last paragraph. Read it. Read it again. And read it again. You know who that paragraph is talking about?

Me! I'm not influential in this world. I'm not born of noble birth. And I'm certainly not wise by human standards. And yet...what was that? God chose the foolish people - people like ME - to shame the wise? He chose the weak people - like ME - to shame the strong? And lastly, he chose the lowly? The despised? Those who are not? I am those people! He chose ME to do these things.

If you read my last post, you'll know I'm at the point in my life where I'm trying to find out what I'm supposed to do with my life. Or even what I CAN do. You'll also know if you've read further back that I don't have the greatest self-esteem in the world. So, when this passage popped up that Sunday night...well, it was definitely God speaking to me.

"HEY, I CHOSE YOU. DON'T WORRY ABOUT THINGS SO MUCH."

Yeah. So that's something I wanted to share. An update, if you will.