Introduction

Good morning, dear church family. It's always a joy to gather with you, to share in the warmth of our fellowship, and to turn our hearts and minds together towards the Word of God. It's a beautiful day, isn't it? A day the Lord has made, a day to rejoice and be glad in it.

We find ourselves today in the heart of 1 Corinthians, a book that illuminates the vast wisdom of God and the unity He desires for His church. Today, we will be focusing on 1 Corinthians 3:18-23. If you have your Bibles, I invite you to open them and follow along with me:

"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. As it is written: 'He catches the wise in their craftiness'; and again, 'The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.' So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God."

Divine Wisdom

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, makes a profound statement about wisdom. He challenges us to rethink our understanding of wisdom, to see it not as the world sees it, but as God sees it. The wisdom of the world, he says, is foolishness in God's sight. This is a radical shift in perspective, one that calls us to reevaluate our values and priorities.

Wisdom, as the world understands it, often revolves around self-interest. It's about gaining an advantage, about getting ahead, about securing our own success. But Paul tells us that this kind of wisdom is ultimately futile. It's like building a house on sand. It may look impressive for a while, but when the storms come, it will quickly crumble.

God's wisdom, on the other hand, is solid and enduring. It's like building a house on a rock. It may not always look impressive to the world. It may not bring us wealth or fame or power. But it will stand firm when the storms come. It will provide us with a sure foundation for life.

So how do we discern this divine wisdom? How do we distinguish it from the wisdom of the world? Paul gives us some clues in his letter. He tells us that divine wisdom is not about boasting in human leaders, but about recognizing that all things are ours in Christ. It's not about seeking our own glory, but about seeking the glory of God.

This brings us to the first aspect of discerning divine wisdom: recognizing its source. Divine wisdom comes from God, not from human leaders or worldly philosophies. It's not something we can attain on our own, but something we receive as a gift from God. We need to humble ourselves, to acknowledge our need for God's wisdom, and to seek it with all our hearts.

The second aspect of discerning divine wisdom is understanding its purpose. Divine wisdom is not about serving our own interests, but about serving God and others. It's about loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. It's about seeking justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God.

The third aspect of discerning divine wisdom is embracing its values. Divine wisdom values things that the world often overlooks or dismisses. It values humility over pride, service over power, love over hate, peace over violence, truth over lies. It values the things that are eternal, not the things that are temporary.

The fourth aspect of discerning divine wisdom is living it out. Divine wisdom is not just about knowing the right things, but about doing the right things. It's about putting our faith into action, about living out the love of God in our daily lives. It's about being doers of the word, not just hearers.

Self-Exaltation

As we continue to reflect on the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:18-23, we are confronted with a stern warning against self-exaltation ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO