1 Corinthians 1:18-25

                                                         1 Corinthians 1:18-25

For the word of the cross is folly 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,
    and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”  Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in 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. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

God does not work in ways that seem logical to men.  He is not limited to the quality of resources of others to accomplish His work.  He has the ability to transform people from useless to useful, from sinful to holy, from weak to strong and from foolish to wise.  Our strength comes from Him, not the other way around.  In fact, God insists that we recognize our own weakness before He will use us.  These are important truths to remember as we seek to serve the Lord.

 

THE GOSPEL IS THE POWER OF GOD FOR THE WEAK: The message of the Gospel seems like foolishness to unbelievers.  Mankind is naturally proud and self-reliant.  We think we can be good enough to earn our salvation.  We think we can be strong enough to deal with our own problems.  We are wrong.  There is no way we can save ourselves.  Christ is the only source of salvation and victory over sin.  Only as we admit to our own weakness will we turn to Christ in faith.  This is why God will often lead us through difficult circumstances and down painful paths.  The power of the Gospel is displayed through our brokenness.    

 

THE GOSPEL IS THE WISDOM OF GOD FOR THE FOOLISH: All the philosophes of man are flawed and lead to disillusionment.  When men attempt to discover purpose in life apart from the glory of God; the result is always emptiness and meaninglessness.  The truth that we were created in the image of God and for the glory of God seems foolish to people who think that the secret to happiness is self-realization.  Any attempt to put ourselves as the center of the universe will always lead to frustration.  Only as we bow to the Lord Jesus and make Him the focus of our lives and worship, will we find true fulfillment.  It may sound foolish to say that our joy is only found in the glory of God, but it is true.  Only as we recognize Him will we find ourselves.

 

APPLICATION: Don’t trust in our own strength to be able to save us.  Readily recognized our weakness and humble ourselves so that God does not have to humble us.  The way to power is not through pride, but humility.  Don’t seek for self-gratification and self-promotion.  Live for God’s glory and not our own.  Trust in His power and live for His glory.

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