Text: 1 Corinthians 1:26 – 31
Many of life’s responsibilities require that we make estimates.
• A rough calculation of the amount, value, worth or power of something.
We estimate how much . . .
• Paint is need to paint a room or a house; Time we need to take a trip in our car
• Money needed when we retire; Material needed to make a dress
We also estimate whether we can . . .
• Teach a Sunday school class; Sin a solo for the first time
• Pass a test, write a report; Learn a new dance step or make a sports team
The world tells us that whenever we make an estimate, we should consider OUR knowledge, OUR ability, OUR resources, OUR experiences.
The world says if you think YOU can do it, you have a good chance. The world also says if you don’t think you can, don’t even try. It’s the world that causes so many of us to lack self-confidence, to fear a new assignment at work, to not even try.
There are so many instances in the Bible when people under estimated themselves or the Lord.
• Moses – can’t talk, I’m a murderer, I only have a walking stick.
• David – God told the prophet Samuel after he rejected the oldest 4, you don’t want David, he’s too young, he’s only a shepherd, he couldn’t be the one.
• Disciples – faced over 5, 000 hungry souls on a mountain side. Said to Jesus, send them away we don’t have anything to feed them.
• Sisters of Lazarus – questioned why Jesus hadn’t come sooner. Our brother is no longer sick, he’s dead and has been dead so long, that he has begun to stink.
In every one of these situations, we see people under estimating themselves and the Lord. Witness?
But in verses 27 – 28 of our text we read, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are.”
What God chooses to do, whom God chooses to use, seems absolutely absurd to those in the world.
• He did choose Moses, one that Pharaoh laughed at when he had Moses and the children of Israel backed up to the Red Sea. But God told Moses to do what wise men would consider foolishness – “Stretch out your Rod.” Don’t underestimate God.
• God did choose David, Jesse’s son even though he was just a young shepherd boy. Jesse thought that God had lost His mind but we know that David went on to kill giants as a boy and as a man. Don’t underestimate God.
• He did tell the disciples “bring me what you have. Andrew said all we have is a little boy’s lunch. But don’t underestimate God.
• Jesus did wait until Lazarus had died. But he told Mary and Martha, what I’m about to do is for God’s glory, not my own. Then He told Lazarus to come forth and he did. Don’t underestimate God.
Our greatest mistake is to use human standards to judge our capability or God’s. How often have you heard that someone was . . .
• Too young, too old, too worldly, too naïve or
• Not smart enough, not enough degrees or
• Hadn’t been a member long enough, been a member too long. Amen?
Our text tells us that God’s decisions are not foolish, they just seem foolish to the world.
• Come here disciples, you thought Jesus was crazy or drunk when he said “bring me the boys lunch.”
• Come here Mary and Martha, you knew Jesus could turn water into wine but raising the dead was too much, for even the Messiah.
• Come here Goliath, you couldn’t help but laugh when that shepherd boy walked on the battlefield with just a sling shot and a few rocks.
Our text tells us that
• God uses the weak to shame the strong
• God uses the lowly to bring down the high and mighty
• God uses the despised to make the weak the light of the world
Every child of God needs to not under estimate themselves or God. Without a doubt Satan is busy doing his job – kill, steal and destroy.
• Kill your confidence
• Steal your self esteem
• Destroy your faith
But I want you to know that you are a child of God and God did not make any junk. You are marvelously made. Tell somebody, “I am marvelously made!”
God is looking for people who are willing to deny themselves.
• People who know that greater is He that is in them, than he who is in the world
• People who know that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord, the called according to His purpose.
• People who know that they can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens them.
God is looking for
• People whose hope is in nothing less, than Jesus Christ and His righteousness.
• People who know that God’s grace is sufficient.
• People who know that it’s not about me, it’s all about Him.
God is looking for people who don’t under estimate him, people who trust in Him and not their own understanding.
God fashioned us for faith, not fear.
God shaped us in His own image, not of the world.
God shaped us with the combination of His strength and with humility.
I’m reminded of the best Samurai swords – hard enough to remain sharp, but soft enough to not break in battle.
To make such a sword, the craftsman will put together multiple sheets of metal, both hard and soft. Some say over 30,000 sheets of metal are hammered together.
The end result is a finely crafted weapon that remains sharp and doesn’t break in the midst of battle.
Just as Japanese sword makers repeatedly hammer together layers of metal to produce a sword that will be strong enough to withstand breaking, so God allows trials to hammer metal into the lives of His children. Just as a sword made of hard metal will easily break in battle, so the believer filled with pride will also break in adversity.
That’s why Paul said, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” Not of themselves.
The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
Oh, Taste and see that the LORD is good;
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.
God did not give us a spirit of fear, nor of insecurity. He gave us one that saves us – Jesus.
Who gave us life and life more abundantly.
