God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise;
God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are,
Paul is laying out the new economy of God. Where the world values strength and power, and wisdom, and possessions, God does not. Not only are these things not valued by God, God uses the exact opposite in wonderful and mysterious ways to show that. Jesus, a man captured, tortured and killed, is the one we call Savior. To the world’s standards, Jesus was a loser, not a winner.
It’s ironic how we still value the things Jesus wasn’t. He wasn’t wealthy. He didn’t have military power, or strength. He didn’t have possessions. But we mortals continue to place value on these things, on knowledge and wisdom, power and strength, and possessions. This is true around the world, but perhaps no more true than in our country. We are exceedingly attached to our possessions. We value knowledge, power and wealth.
I’m not sure that these things are inherently bad, but rather our striving for them becomes bad. They become the idols we are commanded not to place before God. When do I make a choice to value financial security over God? Or possessions? Or comfort?
We can hear these words of Paul and believe them. We can cognitively know they’re true. God chose what is weak to shame the strong. But while assenting to that, we seek strength.
This morning, I’m thinking about professing one thing about God, and doing the opposite. About how I can believe, then behave, then act in a way that is entirely consistent with what I know God seeks in this world. I want to spot those places where this is not the case. Where I seek strength, and wisdom, and power, and possessions, and I want to ask what I’m really gaining from that search.
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