ALL THINGS ARE YOURS

1 Corinthians 3:18–23 ESV

18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

I. BECOME A FOOL

1 Corinthians 3:18–20 (ESV) — 18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

Vs. 19, Job 5:12 (ESV) — 12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.

Vs. 20…” Psalm 94:11 (ESV) — 11 the Lord—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.

Psalm 94:11 (NIV) — 11 The Lord knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile.

II. ALL THINGS ARE YOURS

1 Corinthians 3:21–23 (ESV) —21 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, 23 and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

1 Corinthians 1:27–31 (ESV) — 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Romans 8:32 (ESV) — 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

(All things are yours…) The first three are church teachers (Paul, Apollos, Cephas—which implies that all church teachers are God’s gift to Christians), and the final five are realities that the Messiah’s people do not need to fear, for he is sovereign over them[1]

Ephesians 4:8–14 (ESV) — 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”…11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers…

The reason all things are ours is because we are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

[1] Naselli, A. D. (2020). 1 Corinthians. In I. M. Duguid, J. M. Hamilton Jr., & J. Sklar (Eds.), Romans–Galatians: Vol. X (p. 245). Crossway.