The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1Corinthians 1:18-2:5 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”  ²⁰ Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. ²² For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

²⁶ For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; ²⁷ but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no man may boast before God. ³⁰ But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, ³¹ so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

2 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. ² For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. ³ I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, ⁴ and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

Many people today say that faith in Christ and believing in God’s word, the Bible, is foolishness. They say that Christianity is a sign of weakness. In today’s text Paul says:  God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,  and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,  so that no man may boast before God.  I will gladly be called foolish and weak by people.  In Matthew 23:12 Jesus says:  "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”  In Luke 9:26 Jesus says:  “Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will beashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.”  I will gladly suffer the shame of people’s opinion, rather than suffer the shame of Christ. The psalmist has a different view of foolishness. In Psalm 14:1-3 he says: The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good.  The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God. They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one.  In truth, the very reason that many say there is no God is because if they acknowledge that He is, then they must admit that He is greater than they are. Foolishly they instead make themselves out to be above God. They boast of the wisdom of man, but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,  and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,  so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

The text says:  The word 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, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”   Where is the wise man? 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 through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.  For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;  but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,  but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.  People today love to debate, or at least they pretend to. What most really like to do is argue. They love to present their argument but have no interest in hearing any other opinion. They are unconcerned with truth or fact in their defense of their opinion and theory. The text says:  The world through its wisdom did not come to know God. If science truly makes an honest effort to understand, it will find its answers in God. The attempt to disprove God, leads to theory and speculation. When science has questions, it answers with theory and speculation. When faith has questions, it answers with believing in God. The word 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, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” 

The text says: When I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.  I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.   There are many eloquent and persuasive speakers in the world today. They can persuade and manipulate the minds of people, but none of them, with their superiority of speech, can truly change the hearts of people.  That is the true demonstration of the power of God and the Spirit. It is not the signs and wonders that many seek, but rather it is life; a changed life to those who believe.   John 3:16 says:  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Romans 10:17 says: So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.  In Revelation 2:7 the Lord says:  'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’  In Revelation 3:20-21 He says:  “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” 

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ and precious Holy Spirit thank You for Your wisdom and power; thank You for revealing truth through faith. I make my boast in You and You alone. I am not ashamed of the cross and its power to those who believe. May my life be a demonstration of that power.  Amen.