I love Paul’s approach to the church at Corinth. They had many problems that needed to be addressed. The city of Corinth was a wealthy, educated, bustling city. It was known as “Sin City.” This city is no different than most in our world today. Even in the church, the world’s way of thinking has infiltrated our way of “having church.” We are impressed with resumes, intelligence, and material wealth. This is what we think the unchurched look for, and we have felt the need to provide it. We get caught up in seeking to provide what draws a crowd. Paul was an educated man, climbing the ranks in the Jewish culture. He had all the qualifications that would impress the masses. Yet, Paul’s approach to the church at Corinth is beautifully shocking. He didn’t show up with high-sounding rhetoric or a brilliant, flawless marketing campaign. In fact, he admits he came to them in weakness, fear, and much trembling. He offers them the secret wisdom of God, which comes only from God.
I Corinthians 2:1-3 “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.”
In verses 6-7, he says, “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Why? Because Paul knew a fundamental truth about the Gospel: If we win people with human cleverness, their faith will rely on human cleverness. Instead, Paul relied entirely on the raw, unadulterated power of the Holy Spirit. He knew that the message of a crucified Savior didn’t need human makeup to be beautiful; it just needed to be spoken.
He teaches us the two types of wisdom. One is of the world and the other from God. Worldly wisdom relies on human intelligence, status, and eloquence. God’s wisdom relies on the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit. Worldly wisdom passes away and leads to nothing; God’s wisdom is eternal, depending on a God who always was, is, and always will be. Man cannot understand the cross. In I Corinthians 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish is foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” Godly wisdom deeply understands the cross as the ultimate display of love.
The rulers of Paul’s day thought they were incredibly wise, yet they crucified the Son of God. They were vigilant, aggressive, and had dug their heels in to destroy Christianity, but they were deceived by their own pride and arrogance. They were WRONG!
As believers, we have been given an incredible gift. Verse 9 tells us, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” While this verse is often used to describe Heaven, verse 10 immediately tells us that God has revealed these secret things to us through His Spirit!
We cannot think our way into understanding God. We cannot rely on our own intellect to solve our deepest spiritual needs or navigate life’s heaviest trials. We need the Holy Spirit. Just as only a person’s own spirit knows their thoughts, only the Spirit of God knows the mind of God. And amazingly, if you belong to Christ, you have been given that very Spirit. You have the mind of Christ.
Today, consider where you are looking for guidance and validation. Are you trying to intellectualize your faith? Are you waiting until everything intellectually makes sense before you fully trust in God? Do you rely on your own strength when problems arise? Do you try to come up with clever ways you can manipulate the situation to gain the results you desire? I wonder how often we have cheated ourselves out of God’s best by listening to the world’s wisdom rather than the secret wisdom of God.
We need to step down from our pedestal and be confident in the fact that our faith doesn’t rest on human wisdom, but on the undeniable power of God. May we seek forgiveness for leaning on our own understanding instead of relying on the Holy Spirit that dwells within us.
Proverbs 3:4-7 “So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”
Excellent