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Answer
In choosing a team, the criteria often include a person’s abilities, status, and history of success. However, the world’s definition of success differs from God’s. Intelligence, ability, power, or status are not required by God for someone to become a believer. Those who accept Christ are part of His “team” by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Interestingly, God selects the foolish things to shame the wise, or as stated in the NIV, He “chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise” «but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; », (1 Corinthians 1:27).
Paul had previously reminded the Corinthian believers that the message of the cross unifies them (1 Corinthians 1:10-17). Placing trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins brings all believers into the same family, the same team. No external qualifications such as status, wealth, intellect, nobility, fame, or anything else define us. All other factors become secondary to our standing in Christ: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” «There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. », (Galatians 3:28). “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing” «For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. », (1 Corinthians 1:18), but God, in His infinite wisdom, chooses the foolish things to confound the wise.
While the message of the gospel may seem foolish to the world, “to us who are being saved it is the power of God” «For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. », (1 Corinthians 1:18). The unbelieving world views Christ’s death on the cross as foolish, interpreting it as a sign of weakness or evidence of criminality; nevertheless, this is where God selects the foolish things to confound the wise. It is through the death of Christ that we receive forgiveness of sin and eternal life. This gospel message is straightforward enough for a child to comprehend. In Matthew 11:25, Jesus commends the Father because He has “hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” God’s truth is not foolish; it holds infinite value and brings life to all who believe.
God’s plan of salvation is so simple, so unexpected, that the intellectuals of this world frequently overlook it. Salvation does not come through human reasoning; we cannot rationalize our way to heaven: “Where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. Since God in His wisdom ensured that the world would never know Him through human wisdom, He has utilized our foolish preaching to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:20-21;NLT).
Not only does the message of God appear foolish to the unbelieving world, but so do the people of God: “Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the woThe Bible verse in 1 Corinthians 1:26-27 (ESV) states that God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. Scripture advises us not to rely on our own wisdom, as seen in Proverbs 3:7 (King James Version), where it says, “Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” Instead, we should humbly submit to the Lord and His truth. Though we may seem foolish to the world, this is the path to genuine wisdom, as highlighted in Proverbs 1:7 and Proverbs 9:10. The Amplified Bible version of 1 Corinthians 1:27 emphasizes how God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.
According to 1 Corinthians 3:19-20, the wisdom of this world is considered foolishness by God. There is a distinction between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom, as explained in James 3:13-17. Worldly wisdom focuses on self-pleasure and personal opinions, disregarding the importance of honoring God. While the world may view believers as foolish and weak, God uses them to challenge the wisdom of the world. Salvation does not come from following worldly wisdom but from trusting in what may seem foolish to the world.
God uses the foolish things to confound the wise; that is, He uses what the world deems foolish to demonstrate that the so-called wisdom of the world is not as great as it seems. God’s wisdom through salvation is accessible to everyone: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” «For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. », (John 3:16). Through God’s grace, all who humble themselves and place their trust in Him will receive wisdom that endures for eternity.
