Pastor’s Thoughts – 01/11/2026

America has been so physically blessed that it has become largely self-indulgent. The idea of deserving something is abundantly used in advertising. Our self-importance is promoted continually by external sources. This thinking is naturally receptive by us as sinners, and as our culture has grown increasingly further away from the Bible, God’s truth has been replaced with man’s reasoning. This is the very essence of humanism. The philosophy of humanism rejects a view of God, and instead enthrones mankind in His place. Humanism falsely claims to have science on its side and the ability to fashion its own morals to fit the world. Whether realized or not, this is a high form of idolatry because God has been replaced with human self-idols.

Many churches have drifted into this man-centered thinking. These have been too anxious to comply with migrating cultural standards rather than the Scriptures. Self-love is taught as something biblical and that God loves all people unconditionally. Because all are born into sin our natural tendency is pride and an inflated view of ourselves. It is only the Bible that really tells us who God is, and who we are as ruined captives to sin and blind to essential spiritual truth. However, there is an incomprehensible reality to God’s love displayed to those He has chosen through our Savior’s sacrifice, but not because we are in any manner worthy by our nature or moral attractiveness, but only because His essence is love. His love for us cannot be explained by reason. This one-sided relationship whereby God has chosen to save pathetic sinners is addressed to the Corinthian believers who were full of themselves, and Paul was used by God to chasten them into correct thinking. Paul wrote to them, “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God” (1 Cor. 1:26-29).

The “for” of verse 26 connects this rebuke by Paul back to his previous comments of their self-promoting pride which was causing factions in the assembly. Instead of Paul tickling their ears or puffing them up, he brings them down from their foolish pride to reality. He says, “That there were not many wise according to the flesh.” This word wise means those demonstrating ability to make discerning decisions among men. He also says, “not many mighty,” which expresses those with a powerful status by occupation or position. Then he includes, “not many noble,” as those born into privilege, wealth, power, or prominence. Paul is saying to these Corinthians and by extension to us, look around you, those called by God are most often the opposite of what men regard or expect. This was true of our Lord Himself. Not only was He born into an obscure status by family and location, but it was also true of the disciples that he chose. They were lower class, even uneducated fisherman. They were not attractive prospects for the highest most important occupations ever given to men.

Why is Paul compelled, under the inspiration of God, to address this so abruptly? These Corinthians were focusing on themselves and acting blind to the wisdom and grace of God before them. They were acting and thinking like the world. They were foolishly not seeing themselves as God sees. Instead, how does God see us and act toward us? “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are” (1 Cor. 1:27-28). Paul tells us this was not a mistake on God’s part, but purposeful in His wisdom. In verse 25 he says, “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men” (1 Cor. 1:25). This verse alone tells us how we cannot match wits with, or seek even to understand what God is doing.

Through the prophet Isaiah we are told by God, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Is. 55:9). Of ourselves we could never comprehend the ways of God. Paul tells us why God has chosen us, the foolish of the world, “So that no man may boast before God” (1 Cor. 1:29). As we contemplate the natural pride that we are inclined toward in our sinful condition, our eyes are opened to the truth about us. If we are Christians, here we are as the children of God through no merit or reasoning, but by grace alone. We are moving toward eternal glory as sons of the living God, but with not even the slightest manifestation of self-worth or value to God. We add nothing to Him, nor are we needed by Him. As we comprehend this, instead of pride, do we awake for a new day and marvel at what God through Jesus Christ has done for us – the undeserving? Oh, how I thank God that He has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and that along our journey to glory He has given us His Word to learn of Him, and the privilege to worship Him and praise His holy name!