But God Has Chosen The Foolish Things ... Series

In our current world, people in general tend to think to too highly of ourselves and others. This past week I’ve been reading about Kobe Bryant, who died in a tragic helicopter crash last Sunday, near Los Angeles California. Many will miss him and many talked of his greatness. Everything I read, talked about not only what a swell basketball player he was for the Los Angeles Lakers, but also what a great dad he was as well. Let me tell you one thing, no matter how good a basketball player he was, no matter how good a dad, or how much money he had made or how much he gave away or how many multi-million dollar homes are owned, unless He knew Jesus personally as Lord and Savior (and I really hoped he did), it was all a waste, as far as he is concerned.

Intelligence, abilities and talents, power, and wealth, all the things that matter in the eyes of the world, do not matter with Almighty God. Today, we will consider what matters in the eyes of God.

1 Corinthians 1:26–31

Illustration: Our world has plenty of knowledge and education, but it didn’t necessarily bring along much wisdom. In fact, wisdom can often be learned from the fairly uneducated. Take children for instance.

• Patrick, age 10, says, “Never trust a dog to watch your food.”

• Michael, age 14, says, “When your dad is mad and asks you, ‘Do I look stupid?’ don’t answer him.” Wise man that Michael is, he also said, “Never tell your mom her diet’s not working.”

• Randy, 9 years of age said, “Stay away from prunes.” One has to wonder how poor Randy discovered that bit of wisdom.

• Lauren, age 9 says, “Felt markers are not good to use as lipstick.” Noami can tell you from experience with her son that finger nail polish does not make good lip stick either.

• Joel, 10 years old, says, “Don’t pick on your sister when she’s holding a baseball bat.” and

• Eileen, age 8 says, “Never try to baptize a cat.” [1]

Praise God that He never called me because of the wisdom I have to offer. God never called me to salvation based on what I had to offer. He did not call me because of who I was, He called in spite of who I was. God did not call me to preach because I was qualified to do so. He called me and He equipped me to preach. The old saying is quite true: God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called. We’re going to look at why that is. Paul, writing to the church at Corinth, reminded them where they were in life.

1 Corinthians 1:26 (NKJV) For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

In the church at Corinth, many were slaves, most were lower class. Perhaps this is why many of the downtrodden and lower classes of the world are drawn to Jesus, is the discovery, that while we may not be much in the eyes of the world, we are quite valuable in the eyes of God. Many of the Corinthians had not come from the upper crust of society. They were not reached with high-sounding philosophies, but they were reached with the simple Gospel of Jesus. “For you see your calling, brethren” I like the NIV which translates to say “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called.” Then Paul reminds them that “not many” were wise, or mighty or noble." Paul did not say “not any” but “not many.” Yes God does call those who are wise, mighty, and noble. But there are problems with those that are wise, mighty, and noble. Not as many respond – why? Jesus said:

Matthew 19:23–24 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

It is for the same reason, few of the pharisees responded to the Gospel. Look at the Apostle Paul when he was called. God had to greatly humble Him. Remember Paul, when he was called Saul, in his own mind, he was God’s mighty man (and God was lucky to have him!) after the heathen called Christians. God had to humble Paul in order to use him. Paul had to give up all that he had and all that he was to be used of God. Not many are willing to endure humbling and to surrender to God all that they have and all that they are.