God Chose Foolish Things of the World to Shame the Wise
Introduction. That “God chose foolish things to shame the wise” answers a contentious question dividing those who call themselves Jesus’ disciples. When a “foolish thing” God clearly chose becomes a point of mockery or contention in the world, some believe it should be changed to keep the church growing. Others affirm that since the problem came from the world, Scripture is still flawless and cannot be changed.
God selected things He knew the world would see as foolish to test the faith and resolve of believers. Those who trust Him will accept the limitations He has given. But the proud will change what this world scoffs and scorns. By this choice they will be identified. Those expecting God to be pleased and praise them for the good results of their changes will be greatly disappointed. God has warned that the reason He did this is “that no flesh should boast in His presence.” This is a prophecy that will not fail! No one standing in His presence will be praised or allowed to boast. God never has and never will need help from fallen man.
No one has ever counseled God! No one has first given to Him. Those who seek to “fix” a foolish thing God placed in Scripture are not counseling God. They are boasting in what should and will make them ashamed. This motivation arises from the pride of life, not a love for God. With God’s thoughts higher than the heavens above our own, what could we add or change? The things that appear to be foolish are a test, just like the one God gave to Abraham. God put these foolish things into Scripture to see what we will do with them. If we are wise, we will just do what God commanded whether they seem foolish to us or not.
But it doesn’t stop with foolish things! God also selected weak things of this world to shame the mighty, base (worthless) things of this world, despised things and even things that do not exist in this age.
This is a powerful verse. God intentionally placed into the gospel things He knew would work for His purposes, but that man would see as foolish. All we have to do is look at the controversies dividing disciples today to find them. Yet God has warned that what appears weak and foolish or is despised as worthless in Scripture is still far above anything man could do to replace it. Remember “the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” When those in eternity look upon the church they see God’s manifold wisdom while men on earth see folly and weakness (Eph. 3:9-10). Where do you think the problem lies?
This is how the gate leading to life narrows and the path to destruction broadens. Those who see folly, weakness, what is worthless, and despised in Scripture create new doctrines to replace them. Each of these new doctrines broadens the gate and narrows the path creating another rock, chasm, twist or turn that must navigated to remain on the path to life.
While this has been done since time began, it has reached an epidemic today. Few see their faith as based on a strict interpretation of Scripture. The proverb “it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere” has become a prevailing philosophy of this age. Unity in diversity allows those who do not love or care for the truth to see themselves in fellowship with one another and God. The slogan “accept Christ as your personal Savior and join the church of your choice” has done grave harm to a love for the truth.
The amazing things God has done are now regarded as myths. The six-day creation with Adam created on the sixth day and Eve later from his rib have been sacrificed to the wisdom of recent theories of science on the origin of the universe. The flood, tower of Babel, Sodom and Gomorrah, ten plagues and opening of the Red Sea have all shared the same fate in the minds of many.
One by one the foolish, weak, despised, and worthless things man sees in the church have been removed. The work Jesus gave His disciples was to go into all the world and preach the gospel, equip the saints for the work of ministry and to care for the material needs of saints in distress. These are the “good works God prepared to do be done.”
Yet many see a church only doing such things as a “do nothing” church. Unless a church is actively involved in humanitarian aid, they are not seen as effective. The hungry of the world need to be fed, the sick and injured need to be cared for, and children need an secular education. All of these things have been added to the work of the church bring wisdom and value to it.
Successful churches today are judged by the hospitals they build, the schools and daycare they provide, their care for orphans and taking care of the material needs of the lost. Preaching and training are no longer the primary function in many churches today. In spite of the fact that God did not ask for these other things, they are convinced God will thank and praise them for their wisdom.
When God sent John the Baptist, He sent Him to baptize. When Jesus sent out His apostles, He sent them to baptize. When Peter preached his first sermon, he commanded all to be baptized. The Gentiles were commanded to be baptized as was Paul. It is only way we can die with Him, be buried with Him, and be made alive in Jesus. Yet none of this matters to those who see baptism for the remission of sin as foolish and weak. They follow the same path as Naaman, who refused when asked to dip in the dirty Jordan river. Yet they differ in one respect. When Naaman’s servants reasoned with him, he relented and obeyed. While those today continue to scoff and will die without being immersed for their sins.
God did not include instrumental music in the New Covenant. Yet man has found ways to set this aside as weakness and folly. Those who consider the worship God gave to the church as dull and lifeless have created a new and contemporary worship for the worldly while the “weak” things God asked for are rejected.
Many see God’s organization of the church as weak. The world sees strength in numbers. Tying all local churches together under a central organization on earth is the wisest course to them. That God placed each local church directly under Jesus who is working with them and doing far more than any human organization could do has been set aside as weakness and folly.
The voluntary first day of the week contribution is far too “weak” to bring in the money needed for their new good works. Today, churches use raffles, garage sales, investments and other means to gather more money.
Conclusion. Each generation chooses its own wisdom. When this wisdom differs from Scripture, a choice must be made. Scripture contains God’s will. God has warned that when we find things that are foolish and weak it is a test! It is a choice for each disciple to make. Will we walk in God’s will and stay within it no matter how foolish, weak or despised it might appear or will we reject God’s will to follow our own?
God selected things He knew the world would see as foolish to test the faith and resolve of believers. Those who trust Him will accept the limitations He has given. But the proud will change what this world scoffs and scorns. By this choice they will be identified. Those expecting God to be pleased and praise them for the good results of their changes will be greatly disappointed. God has warned that the reason He did this is “that no flesh should boast in His presence.” This is a prophecy that will not fail! No one standing in His presence will be praised or allowed to boast. God never has and never will need help from fallen man.
- How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor? 35 Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him? (Rom. 11:33-36).
No one has ever counseled God! No one has first given to Him. Those who seek to “fix” a foolish thing God placed in Scripture are not counseling God. They are boasting in what should and will make them ashamed. This motivation arises from the pride of life, not a love for God. With God’s thoughts higher than the heavens above our own, what could we add or change? The things that appear to be foolish are a test, just like the one God gave to Abraham. God put these foolish things into Scripture to see what we will do with them. If we are wise, we will just do what God commanded whether they seem foolish to us or not.
But it doesn’t stop with foolish things! God also selected weak things of this world to shame the mighty, base (worthless) things of this world, despised things and even things that do not exist in this age.
- God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
This is a powerful verse. God intentionally placed into the gospel things He knew would work for His purposes, but that man would see as foolish. All we have to do is look at the controversies dividing disciples today to find them. Yet God has warned that what appears weak and foolish or is despised as worthless in Scripture is still far above anything man could do to replace it. Remember “the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” When those in eternity look upon the church they see God’s manifold wisdom while men on earth see folly and weakness (Eph. 3:9-10). Where do you think the problem lies?
This is how the gate leading to life narrows and the path to destruction broadens. Those who see folly, weakness, what is worthless, and despised in Scripture create new doctrines to replace them. Each of these new doctrines broadens the gate and narrows the path creating another rock, chasm, twist or turn that must navigated to remain on the path to life.
While this has been done since time began, it has reached an epidemic today. Few see their faith as based on a strict interpretation of Scripture. The proverb “it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere” has become a prevailing philosophy of this age. Unity in diversity allows those who do not love or care for the truth to see themselves in fellowship with one another and God. The slogan “accept Christ as your personal Savior and join the church of your choice” has done grave harm to a love for the truth.
The amazing things God has done are now regarded as myths. The six-day creation with Adam created on the sixth day and Eve later from his rib have been sacrificed to the wisdom of recent theories of science on the origin of the universe. The flood, tower of Babel, Sodom and Gomorrah, ten plagues and opening of the Red Sea have all shared the same fate in the minds of many.
One by one the foolish, weak, despised, and worthless things man sees in the church have been removed. The work Jesus gave His disciples was to go into all the world and preach the gospel, equip the saints for the work of ministry and to care for the material needs of saints in distress. These are the “good works God prepared to do be done.”
Yet many see a church only doing such things as a “do nothing” church. Unless a church is actively involved in humanitarian aid, they are not seen as effective. The hungry of the world need to be fed, the sick and injured need to be cared for, and children need an secular education. All of these things have been added to the work of the church bring wisdom and value to it.
Successful churches today are judged by the hospitals they build, the schools and daycare they provide, their care for orphans and taking care of the material needs of the lost. Preaching and training are no longer the primary function in many churches today. In spite of the fact that God did not ask for these other things, they are convinced God will thank and praise them for their wisdom.
When God sent John the Baptist, He sent Him to baptize. When Jesus sent out His apostles, He sent them to baptize. When Peter preached his first sermon, he commanded all to be baptized. The Gentiles were commanded to be baptized as was Paul. It is only way we can die with Him, be buried with Him, and be made alive in Jesus. Yet none of this matters to those who see baptism for the remission of sin as foolish and weak. They follow the same path as Naaman, who refused when asked to dip in the dirty Jordan river. Yet they differ in one respect. When Naaman’s servants reasoned with him, he relented and obeyed. While those today continue to scoff and will die without being immersed for their sins.
God did not include instrumental music in the New Covenant. Yet man has found ways to set this aside as weakness and folly. Those who consider the worship God gave to the church as dull and lifeless have created a new and contemporary worship for the worldly while the “weak” things God asked for are rejected.
Many see God’s organization of the church as weak. The world sees strength in numbers. Tying all local churches together under a central organization on earth is the wisest course to them. That God placed each local church directly under Jesus who is working with them and doing far more than any human organization could do has been set aside as weakness and folly.
The voluntary first day of the week contribution is far too “weak” to bring in the money needed for their new good works. Today, churches use raffles, garage sales, investments and other means to gather more money.
Conclusion. Each generation chooses its own wisdom. When this wisdom differs from Scripture, a choice must be made. Scripture contains God’s will. God has warned that when we find things that are foolish and weak it is a test! It is a choice for each disciple to make. Will we walk in God’s will and stay within it no matter how foolish, weak or despised it might appear or will we reject God’s will to follow our own?
- Thus says the Lord: Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' (Jer. 6:16)
- Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; 24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord. (Jer. 9:23-24).
- Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it. 3 Then Job answered the Lord and said: 4 Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? (Job 40:2)
- However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (1Cor. 2:6-8)
- But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1Cor. 2:14)
- Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness"; 20 and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." (1Cor. 3:18-21)