Monday, June 26, 2023 – 1 Corinthians 1

Imagine you are standing in a grand library, filled with shelves upon shelves of books. Each book is a source of worldly wisdom—the accumulated knowledge of humanity. People from all walks of life flock to this library, seeking answers, guidance, and understanding. (Sounds a bit like Amazon, YouTube, or Chat GPT!)

As you walk the aisles, you notice some titles like…

1. "The Power of Persuasion: Mastering the Art of Influence"
2. "Achievement Unleashed: The Secrets to Unlimited Success"
3. "The Path to Prosperity: Wealth, Fame, and Fortune Revealed"
4. "The Art of Manipulation: Mastering Control in Relationships and Business"
5. "The Wisdom of Earthly Kings: Ruling with Power and Dominance"
6. "The Science of Happiness: A Formula for Fulfillment"
7. "The Secrets of a Perfect Life: Balancing Work, Family, and Pleasure"

You start to notice the themes that humanity’s wisdom has accumulated over time. Billions of people over history can’t be too far off… Right? But then why has the world always struggled?

Then, amidst this sea of titles, you spot a simple, unadorned book titled "The Wisdom of the Cross." It doesn’t fit the prevailing themes but stands in stark contrast to the grandeur and self-glorification found throughout the library. Its table of contents includes humility, self-sacrifice, and dependence on God, and that fluffy “distraction” from success… love.

As you peruse the pages, it feels almost as if the book would be banned if the librarian discovered it! It’s obvious this book has been picked up and put down many times. It has been adapted and adjusted so others can make knockoff versions that the visitors of the library might be more interested in. But the closer you examine the “upside-down” wisdom of the cross, the more the entire library appears upside down.

Like the Corinthians who lived in the geographical center of the ancient world’s various expressions of wisdom, philosophy, and faith, we too are faced with the wisdom of the world in contrast to the Wisdom of the Cross. Paul calls it foolishness to Greek intellectuals and philosophers and a stumbling block to the Jewish traditionalists with eyes closed to the activity of God in the world. The question becomes, what source of wisdom will you choose to trust with your beliefs, your action, your life, and your eternal life?

Questions for reflection:

  1. What parts of following Jesus seem foolish to you?
  2. What “book” of worldly wisdom from the fake list above do you find yourself most drawn to? What would the wisdom of the cross (God choosing to have his son’s life sacrificed for sinners) say about that topic?