1 Corinthians 1:24-25, The Wisdom of God
1 Corinthians 1:24-25 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
The gospel is the power and wisdom of God to save. Despise not the gospel for it is the only hope, the only cure for sin and death. The Apostle Paul is exhorting the church in Corinth to press on in sowing the seed of the gospel. He made a relative comparison driving home the point that even the least of God’s wisdom bordering upon “foolishness” as fallen man would interpret God’s ways, is still superior to man’s wisdom.
When the Syrian general Naaman was asked by Elisha to dip in the muddy waters of Jordan to cure his leprosy, he despised this humbling act. His pride and “wisdom” will not permit him to acquiesce with such a preposterous suggestion. Naaman became furious and even insulted that he would have to go to the dirty little Jordan to be cleansed of his disease – 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. (2 Kings 5:12) Surely, the rivers of Damascus are superior to the Jordan. He felt insulted. He would not obey the prophet’s instruction.
2 Kings 5:13-14: 13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? 14Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
Naaman had to humble himself before God, hearkened to God’s prophet to receive healing. It is a demonstration that the wisdom of God is indeed wiser than man’s wisdom!
May the Lord grant us renewed faith and strength to share the Gospel appropriating its power and wisdom to help the people around us who are still outside His kingdom. Amen.