Becoming Foolish (1 Corinthians 1-4)

Do not 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.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. (1 Corinthians 3:18-19a)

There is a foolishness that isn’t foolishness at all.  In fact, it comes as a result of recognizing one’s place in the whole scheme of things.  For the Corinthian church, they were wise in the ways of the world, and to them that was of great value.  Paul, however, claimed that of greater value is to be a fool in the ways of the world but wise in the ways of God.

To be wise in the ways of God is to look foolish to those who are of the world and who think they know so very much.  It’s a paradox, really; you cannot be wise in both.  In which way will you be a fool?

Father, I want to be wise in Your ways.  Keep me from being swept away by the foolishness of the world around me.  Instead, be pleased to instill wisdom into my heart – that I may be a fool in the ways of the world by wise in the ways of You.