It's Not Always That Easy

It's Not Always That Easy

Introduction

1 Corinthians 1:18: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

This passage, penned by the Apostle Paul, holds profound truths that we will ponder today.

It speaks to God's profound wisdom, which seems foolish to the world but to those of us who believe it is the power of God for salvation.

It is wisdom not of this world but from above that comes through Christ's cross.

"Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom."

We need divine wisdom, not the wisdom of this world.

How do we tell the difference between Godly Wisdom and Worldly Wisdom?

Distinguishing Divine Wisdom

When we think about wisdom, we often consider it regarding the world's understanding.

We think about knowledge, about education, about learning.

We think about the wise old owl, the mountaintop sage, and the ivory tower professor.

But the wisdom that comes from God is different.

It's not about how much we know but how well we know Him.

It's not about our understanding but about our relationship with Him.

The wisdom of God is not something that can be gained through study or effort.

It's not something that we can earn or achieve.

It's a gift, freely given to those who seek Him.

It's a revelation, a divine insight into God's nature and ways.

It deeply understands His character, love, grace, mercy, and justice.

The wisdom of God is not something that can be measured or quantified, compared or ranked, bought or sold.

It's a treasure, a pearl of great price, a hidden gem found only by those who seek it with all their heart.

The wisdom of God is not something that can be seen or touched.

It's not something that can be heard or tasted.

It's a mystery, a secret, a hidden truth revealed only to those with eyes to see and ears to hear.

It's a whisper, a still, small voice, a gentle breeze that blows where it wills.

The wisdom of God is not understandable, explained, reasoned, or argued.

It's a paradox, a contradiction, a mystery beyond our comprehension.

It's a truth known only by those touched by His grace, transformed by His love, and born again by His Spirit.

The wisdom of God is not something that can be contained or controlled.

It's not something that can be predicted or planned.

It's a wild, untamed, unpredictable force that moves in ways we cannot understand or anticipate.

It's a river that flows where it wills, a wind that blows where it pleases, a fire that burns with an intensity that cannot be quenched.

The wisdom of God is not something that can be used, manipulated, harnessed, or directed.

It's a power, a force, a presence beyond our control.

It's a light that shines in the darkness, a salt that gives flavor to the world, a leaven that transforms the whole lump.

The wisdom of God is not something that can be denied or ignored.

It's not something that can be avoided or evaded.

It's a reality, a truth, a fact that confronts us with its undeniable presence.

It's a rock that stands firm, a mountain that cannot be moved, a foundation that cannot be shaken.

In the end, the wisdom of God is not something that can be defined or described. It's not something that can be understood or explained.

It's a mystery, a paradox, a contradiction beyond our comprehension.

It's a truth known only by those touched by His grace, transformed by His love, and born again by His Spirit.

It's a gift, a treasure, a pearl of great price found only by those who seek it with all their heart.

It's a revelation, a divine insight into the nature of God and His ways.

It deeply understands His character, love, grace, mercy, and justice.

It's God's wisdom, and it's ours for the asking.

Divergence of Worldly and Godly Wisdom

As we continue to reflect on the wisdom of God, we find ourselves at the intersection of two distinct perspectives—the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God.

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, was addressing a community that was deeply influenced by both Greek philosophy and Roman culture.

This society highly valued human wisdom, knowledge, and eloquence.

Yet, Paul challenges this worldview by presenting a different kind of wisdom, a wisdom that is not of this world but from God.

As Paul describes it, the world's wisdom is centered around human understanding and reasoning.

It comes from human experience, education, and intellect.

It is the wisdom that is celebrated and rewarded in our society.

The wisdom of the world is often used to make decisions, solve problems, and achieve success.

It is the wisdom that is often associated with power, prestige, and position.

Yet, Paul warns us that this kind of wisdom can be misleading.

It can lead us to rely on our understanding instead of trusting God.

It can lead us to seek our glory instead of giving glory to God.

It can lead us to pursue our desires instead of seeking God's will.

It can lead us to live for the things of this world instead of living for the things of God.

On the other hand, the wisdom of God, as Paul describes it, is centered around the cross of Christ.

It is the wisdom that comes from God's revelation in Christ.

It is the wisdom that is grounded in the love, grace, and mercy of God.

It is the wisdom that is demonstrated in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

It is the wisdom that is often overlooked and undervalued in our society.

Yet Paul assures us that this kind of wisdom is powerful.

It is God's power for salvation.

It transforms lives, heals relationships, and restores communities.

It brings hope, peace, and joy.

It enables us to live a life that is pleasing to God.

In the original Greek, the word for wisdom used in this passage is "Sophia."

This word is used throughout the New Testament to refer to human and divine wisdom.

For example, Luke 2:40 describes the wisdom that Jesus grew in as a child.

James 3:17 describes the wisdom that comes from above, which is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.

The wisdom of God, as revealed in Christ, challenges us to rethink our values, priorities, and pursuits.

It challenges us to recognize human wisdom's limitations and embrace the wisdom that comes from God.

It challenges us to live by the standards of God's kingdom rather than those of this world.

The wisdom of God, as revealed in Christ, also invites us to experience the power of God in our lives.

It invites us to experience the power of God's love, grace, and mercy.

It invites us to experience the power of God's forgiveness, healing, and restoration.

It invites us to experience the power of God's hope, peace, and joy.

As we reflect on the wisdom of God, let us be challenged and invited to live a life centered around the cross of Christ.

A life grounded in God's love, grace, and mercy, a life transformed by God's power, a life that gives glory to God.

Dedication to the Wisdom of the Cross

As we focus on the Dedication to the Wisdom of the Cross, we find ourselves standing at the foot of the cross, the ultimate symbol of Godly wisdom.

This wisdom, my friends, is not a fleeting thought or a fad.

It is an enduring truth that stands the test of time, a beacon of light in a world often shrouded in darkness.

The wisdom of the cross is a call to action, a call to live our lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

It's an invitation to let the cross shape our decisions, actions, and relationships.

It's a call to let the wisdom of the cross permeate every aspect of our lives.

The first aspect we'll consider is the transformative power of the cross.

The cross, my friends, is not just a symbol of sacrifice; it's a symbol of transformation.

It's a testament to the transformative power of God's love, a love so strong that it can turn a symbol of death into a symbol of life, a symbol of defeat into a symbol of victory.

The wisdom of the cross invites us to let this transformative power work in our lives, to let it shape us into the image of Christ.

The wisdom of the cross is not just about knowing; it's about living.

It's about letting the truth of the cross shape our actions, our decisions, and our relationships.

It's about living a life that reflects the love, grace, mercy, and power of the cross.

It's about living a life that is a testament to the transformative power of the cross.

It's not just about believing in the cross; it's about letting the cross shape how we see and interact with the world.

The second aspect we'll consider is the empowering nature of the cross.

The cross, my friends, is not just a symbol of powerlessness; it's a symbol of empowerment.

It's a testament to the empowering nature of God's love, a love so strong that it can turn a symbol of weakness into a symbol of strength and humiliation into a symbol of dignity.

The wisdom of the cross invites us to let this empowering love work in our lives, strengthen us in our weaknesses, and lift us up in our lowliness.

The wisdom of the cross is not just about receiving; it's about giving.

It's about letting the truth of the cross shape our giving, serving, and loving.

It's about living a life that reflects generosity, selflessness, humility, and the power of the cross.

It's about living a life that is a testament to the empowering nature of the cross.

Beloved, as we stand at the foot of the cross, let us not just marvel at its wisdom; let us live it.

Let us let the wisdom of the cross shape our lives, decisions, actions, and relationships.

Let the wisdom of the cross transform us, empower us, and guide us.

Let us live lives that are a testament to the wisdom of the cross.

Conclusion

As we close our time together, let's remember that God's wisdom, the wisdom that comes through the cross, is not foolishness but the very power of God.

It's not just about knowledge but how we use it in our lives.

It's about living out the love of God and showing His goodness to the world around us.

God's wisdom is not like the world's wisdom.

It's not about being the smartest or the most successful.

It's about love, sacrifice, and humility.

It's about laying down our lives for others, just as Christ did for us.

That's the wisdom of the cross. That's the power of God.

So, let's go out into the world, not with the wisdom of the world, but with the wisdom of God.

Let's show the world what it means to live a life of love that reflects God's goodness.

Let's be a light in the darkness, a beacon of hope in a world desperately needing it.

Let's pray.