“Being A Fool for Christ”
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Introduction
The story is told of a college professor who visited the Fiji Islands. Being agnostic, he critically remarked to an elderly chief, "You’re a great leader, but it’s a pity you’ve been taken in by those foreign missionaries. They only want to get rich through you. No one believes the Bible anymore. People are tired of the threadbare story of Christ dying on a cross for the sins of mankind. They know better now. I’m sorry you’ve been so foolish as to accept their story." The old chief’s eyes flashed as he answered, "See that great rock over there? On it we smashed the heads of our victims. Notice the furnace next to it? In that oven we formerly roasted the bodies of our enemies. If it hadn’t been for those good missionaries and the love of Jesus that changed us from cannibals into Christians, you’d never leave this place alive! You’d better thank the Lord for the Gospel; otherwise we’d already be feasting on you. If it weren’t for the Bible, you’d now be our supper!
A child writes; “Dear God, The bad people laughed at Noah saying- "You made an ark on dry land you fool". But Noah was smart, he stuck with You. That’s what I would do.” Signed your friend Nan.
Henry Ward Beecher, the famous New England minister, entered his pulpit one Sunday morning. Awaiting him was an unmarked envelope. Opening it, he found a single sheet of paper on which was written the single word, “FOOL.” After chuckling to himself, he held the paper up to the congregation and said, “I have known many an instance of a man writing letters and forgetting to sign his name. But this is the only instance I’ve ever known of a man signing his name and forgetting to write his letter.
To often the world looks at Christianity as foolishness. Why get up early on Sunday when you can sleep in? Christian’s don’t have any fun do they? Do those of you who went to Adventureland or our church picnic enjoy yourselves? Why help those in need when you can help yourself? Why spend time reading the Bible when you can watch a little sex and violence on TV? Why be a fool for Jesus Christ?
Today I want to challenge you to become, just that, a fool for Christ.
(Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 1:26ff)
I. “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called…”
A. The Calling
-In the 1st century a town-crier would go around the town and call everyone out for the town meeting.
-Those who arrived were called the “ekklasia”, called out ones, or in our modern English, “the church.”
-Not only does God call people to serve in the ministry, but he invites all who will to come, to His table.
(Read Luke 14:16-24)
-What kind of people does God invite into His home? (See Luke 14:21)
B. What were you
-What kind of person were you before you became a Christian?
-What things mattered the most to you? Do they still have the same value?
1. Wise –intellectual wisdom
-Jeremiah says; (Jeremiah 1:6)
“Ah, Sovereign Lord, “I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.”
-Solomon says; (1 kings 3:7)
“Now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.”
2. Influential –politically powerful
-Moses (Exodus 3:11)
“But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
*Billie Jo, a girl in one of my youth groups was put in charge of the school homework club. I had given her my authority. I told the other kids that they better listen to her or I would take care of them when I got back. Yet even after that she was afraid to take charge.
-God gives us His authority here on earth, but are you still afraid to do His will.
3. Noble Birth –social status
-Gideon (Judges 6:15)
“But Lord, Gideon asked, How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
-Saul when Samuel ask him to be King(1 Samuel 9:21)
“Saul answered, ‘But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?”
Let us look at another example; see if you can guess who I am talking about:
-not so noble birth, son of a poor but honest carpenter
-born in a small house with dirt floors
-his house had one small window and one door on leather hinges
-the chimney was made of clay and sticks
-he was born on a bed of cornhusk and bear-skins
-it was told that his early laughter meant that he wouldn’t come to much
-he was born in the backwoods of Kentucky and raised in Illinois
-His name was Abraham Lincolon
II. “So that no one may boast before Him…”
A. God chose the foolish rather then the wise
*I remember at Florida Christian College at the beginning of the school year, how two young boys hobbled from room to room just to help the students move in. Both were slow and physically handicap, yet you could always count on them to lend a hand when no one else would. Here were all these students perfectly capable of helping, but it was two boys I would of counted as useless, who lended a hand when we were in need.
-I have a special place in my heart for the handicap, for those who face physical challenges daily, because they remind us “perfect” people how imperfect we really are.
-I think those special individuals who overcome such difficult obstacles in their lives are God’s gift to the world, because in their weakness we often see strength of character and kindness that tends to put us in our place and make us realize our lack of compassion for others.
-I think that is why our Savior was born into such humble circumstances, as a reminder that a Christ-like character begins with humility.
“What good could come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46)
B. God chose the weak rather then the strong
*I have done a lot of caving or spelunking and I am always amazed that most cave entrances are rather small and unimpressive, but once you get inside you are treated to vast caverns and beautiful rock formations.
-Often when we look at other people we only see the surface of their lives and fail to see the depth of the person behind.
“For to be sure, He [Christ] was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. Likewise, we [the apostles] are weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him to serve you.”
-It is in the weakness of Christ that we find strength in God.
-The world has so twisted our way of thinking, we have flip-flopped the things in this life that are of real value with the things that are worthless when it comes to eternity.
C. God chose the nothings rather then something
*My dad has always been there for me when I needed him the most. My dad taught me many things growing up. He is a man of great pride and determination, a sometimes harsh disciplinarian, but always a loving father. I found it humbling when he came to me for help on how to use a computer. This hero of my life, who I had always looked to for guidance, asking me for a little help.
-To be usable by God, to be teachable by God, we have to set aside our pride and be open to the direction he has for us.
-God may be calling you into the ministry, God may be calling you to serve in the mission field, God may be calling you to get more involved with the ministry of this church. But can hear that call, you are going to have to be willing to put aside your dreams, goals, and ambitions for what He has planned for you.
-You have to be willing to become nothing, before God can make you something.
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mathew 16:24-26)
III. “Let him who boast, boast in the Lord.”
A. Boast in His righteousness
-Righteousness is simply having a right relationship with God.
-It is Jesus Christ who restores our relationship with God, by taking upon Himself our sins, that we may come cleansed into the presence of perfect and sinless God.
“But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith [trust]in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:21-23)
“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21)
-We should boast of Jesus Christ who is our righteousness from God.
B. Boast in His holiness
-Our relationship with Jesus Christ makes spiritual growth possible.
-Holiness {hagiasmos} or sanctification, which means to be set apart or aside for God, it is the transforming process or growth by which we put aside the ways of the world and become God’s people in our manner of life.
-How can we a sin soiled people come before a perfect God.
“Woe to me!’ I [Isaiah] cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (Isa. 6:5)
“For it is by grace [God’s kindness] you have been saved, through faith [trusting in God]– and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -–not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:8-10)
-Grace {charis from charisma} means to receive ones favor or kindness
-Mercy {eleos} to have pity upon; is the action of bringing relief from sin.
-One must first have grace before one can receive mercy.
C. Boast in His redemption
-Christ delivers us from spiritual death
-redemption from sin, Jesus paid our ransom
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:55-57)
Conclusion:
“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” (2 Cor. 11:30)
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:9-10)
Like Paul, let us become fools in the eyes of this world for Christ. For if being a fool means we take a stand for Jesus Christ and the Word of God, then let us do so, not excepting the political correctness of this world or it’s so called wisdom.
With humble spirits we will shine the light of Christ into our community like a beacon for all those who seek the truth and wisdom of God. For all those who seek His salvation.
Illustrations were taken from Illustrations Resource Database online.
