Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he 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.” (1 Corinthians 3:18–20, NIV 1984).
My Musings – “By the standards of this age.“ We must definitely set our sights a mite higher. Which in God’s sight sometimes appears lower. At least “by the wisdom of this world.” For example:
“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling His disciples to Him, Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.'” (Mark 12:41–44, NIV 1984).
“I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10, NIV 1984).
“The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.” (James 1:9, NIV 1984). “That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'” (James 4:6, NIV 1984).
“How then can we be saved? All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:5–6, NIV 1984).
“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:2–3, NIV 1984).
“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.” (Matthew 25:40, NIV 1984).
“Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.'” (Mark 7:6, NIV 1984).
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13–14, NIV 1984).
My Advice – What might seem clever and right in our own eyes, or in the eyes of the world is not always so. Look through the lens of Scripture.
