Foolish Humanity, Artistic God
Blog / Produced by The High Calling
Let's face it, at one time or another we all believe we don't measure up—we fall short of what we imagine others expect or accomplish. Perhaps we even overhear someone say, "That person is a loser!"
The Apostle Paul apparently heard frequent criticism about early Christians. They were not exactly the social or cultural elite. But far from trying to hide or ignore Christians' status, in 1 Corinthians 1, Paul uses it to illustrate God's grace. "Remember your own calling, brothers and sisters," Paul says. "You do not belong to the powerful or the wise of this world. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose the 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, so that no one might boast in the presence of God." (vv. 26-29)
In the preceding verses, Paul described the things his world admired: miraculous signs, deep wisdom, knowledge. Surprisingly, he says God did not choose these things to call people to faith. No, God chose a decidedly less impressive path: weakness, even foolishness. Certainly that is what the educated class of Paul's day would have thought of Christ's death on the cross: foolish, even scandalous. How could such an ignominious death have any importance for me? Nevertheless Paul says, "God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation [of Christ crucified], to save those who believe" (v. 21).
Now Paul does not say that this one time God pulled a fast one and salvaged something from a disaster. No, that was no one-time event; it was God's method. "God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength." (v. 25) Look how he took the Corinthians, people no one would call important, and made them into children of God, indeed into the very temple of God. (1 Cor. 3:16)
Artists do that. They exercise what someone called a "redemptive wish" to turn ordinary materials—colors, sounds, objects—into beauty and meaning. God, the great artist, transforms mean and insignificant materials into wonderful works. Like the dust that became Adam and Eve, He shapes the bits and pieces of our lives into something valuable. If we have the faith to see it, God wants to do this in our lives today.
Questions for discussion:
• What parts of your life need renewal?
• Think about a time recently when you felt inadequate.
• Do you think God understands those feelings?
• What experiences remind you that God is active in your life?
The Apostle Paul apparently heard frequent criticism about early Christians. They were not exactly the social or cultural elite. But far from trying to hide or ignore Christians' status, in 1 Corinthians 1, Paul uses it to illustrate God's grace. "Remember your own calling, brothers and sisters," Paul says. "You do not belong to the powerful or the wise of this world. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose the 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, so that no one might boast in the presence of God." (vv. 26-29)
In the preceding verses, Paul described the things his world admired: miraculous signs, deep wisdom, knowledge. Surprisingly, he says God did not choose these things to call people to faith. No, God chose a decidedly less impressive path: weakness, even foolishness. Certainly that is what the educated class of Paul's day would have thought of Christ's death on the cross: foolish, even scandalous. How could such an ignominious death have any importance for me? Nevertheless Paul says, "God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation [of Christ crucified], to save those who believe" (v. 21).
Now Paul does not say that this one time God pulled a fast one and salvaged something from a disaster. No, that was no one-time event; it was God's method. "God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength." (v. 25) Look how he took the Corinthians, people no one would call important, and made them into children of God, indeed into the very temple of God. (1 Cor. 3:16)
Artists do that. They exercise what someone called a "redemptive wish" to turn ordinary materials—colors, sounds, objects—into beauty and meaning. God, the great artist, transforms mean and insignificant materials into wonderful works. Like the dust that became Adam and Eve, He shapes the bits and pieces of our lives into something valuable. If we have the faith to see it, God wants to do this in our lives today.
Questions for discussion:
• What parts of your life need renewal?
• Think about a time recently when you felt inadequate.
• Do you think God understands those feelings?
• What experiences remind you that God is active in your life?
