1 Corinthians 3:18 Don’t deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise.
It always amazes me how the Bible can speak to generation after generation and be completely applicable in any one of them. This verse is a great example of just that. Though written to the early church in Corinth two thousand years ago, the message is just as timely today.
Paul cautions readers to be honest with themselves about assuming they are wise. He tells them specifically not to deceive themselves by what they think. They assume they are wise but their wisdom is based on worldly standards, not based on God’s standards. We see this a lot from our science community (though there are still plenty of believers amongst the scientists). They think they are wise and full of knowledge because they have advanced degrees and experience demonstrating their learning. If they cannot observe it or explain it, then it is rejected. They want empirical evidence, not blind faith. And that’s where faith in Christ gets tossed aside and scoffed at.
But to the believers faith is the foundation of our beliefs because we have not seen God with our own eyes or by any tangible “proof” the world would expect. We are considered fools by the world for what we believe. But we know that we must be fools by the world’s standards to submit humbly before our Maker, thus receiving grace and mercy and becoming wise by God’s standards.
So let them call us fools. Let them laugh and mock us for our faith in God. We should happily embrace foolishness because we are being given wisdom from our heavenly Father. And no one in the world can take that away from us.
Are you a fool for Christ? I will gladly accept the world calling me a fool if it means I receive Godly wisdom. How about you?
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