“… the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. ” “… the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” 1 Corinthians 3:19 October 19, 2018

Purpose Raise our consciousness of prevalent examples of “worldly wisdom” Reframe our perspective to be more aligned with God’s viewpoint

Plan Context of 1 Corinthians 3:19 Identify: what is the wisdom of the world and why it is folly to God? Explore examples of prevalent ‘worldly wisdom’ and compare them with the perspective of Scripture

Setting the Stage Paul had helped establish this ecclesia (Acts 18) and had close relationships with many of its members (e.g., “dear children” in 1 Cor. 4:14) Many issues amongst the brothers and sisters, including: class divisions sexual immorality sacrificing meat to idols fighting about to whom they ‘belonged’ (Paul, Apollos, Peter, Christ) Paul’s overarching solution: “Do all to God’s glory” (1 Cor. 10:31)

Compare: 1 Corinthians 3:18-19 (ESV) 1 Corinthians 1:17-21 (ESV) “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness…” “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 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.”

What is the wisdom of this world? The wisdom belonging to men, acquired by learning and experience, summed up in maxims and proverbs. (Strong’s G4678) This “wisdom” often: promotes that answers are within us (both as individuals and as a society) encourages self-sufficiency and self-reliance, seeing no need for salvation denies the existence, power and love of God is expressed by inspirational/motivational quotes, proverbs, fables, idioms, slogans and memes

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A good understanding have all they that do thy commandments…” Psalm 111:10 Why is it foolish to God? “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:7 “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 6:25 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy or vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8 “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God…” Psalm 14:1

Example #1

Example #1 “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16 “All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.” 1 Corinthians 10:23 “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” Hebrews 13:14 “…but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal. for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Example #2

Example #2 “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” Matthew 16:26 “And [Jesus] said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15 “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 2:4-5 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” Matthew 25:23

Example #3

Example #3 “Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” Colossians 3:13 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 “Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” Luke 17:3-4 “And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” 1 John 4:20 “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Romans 12:16-18

Example #4

Example #4  ”But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.” 1 Corinthians 6:17 “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.” Romans 14:8 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

Example #5

Example #5 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 “…put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 2:22-24 “…you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.” 1 Corinthians 3:23

Final Example (#6)

Final Example (#6) “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” Ephesians 5:11 “The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:12 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20 “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

Conclusion Worldly wisdom stems from humans believing they have all the answers We encounter worldly wisdom in many ways across many platforms; much of it seems helpful/positive on the surface Search the Scriptures to discern worldly wisdom from God’s wisdom and then act on God’s wisdom “...their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2-3