HAVE YOU BECOME A FOOL YET?
"All human philosophy that is repugnant to the Gospel is but vain deceit." - Grotius
In Matthew Henry's Commentary, we find these statements - "We are in great danger of deceiving ourselves when we have too high an opinion of human wisdom and arts; plain and pure Christianity will be likely to be despised by those who can suit their doctrines to the corrupt taste of their hearers, and set them off with fine language, or support them with a show of deep and strong reasoning. But he who seems to be wise must become a fool that he may be wise. He must be sensible of his own ignorance, and lament it; he must distrust his own understanding, and not lean on it."
"He who seems to be wise must become a fool that he may be wise."
Have you become a fool yet - or are you still holding on to the worldly wisdom of this age?
In 1 Corinthians 3:18, the Apostle Paul stated - "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise."
This message is a call to humility and modesty - a call to -
...renounce the vain conceit of your own wisdom
...obey God - no matter how foolish you may look in the eyes of the world in doing so
...preach the plain and simple Truth of the Word - without attempting to make it appealing "to the corrupt taste of its hearers" by "setting if off with fine language" or "supporting it with a show of deep and strong reasoning."
It is also a warning to all those who have a reputation of being wise or think or pretend to be wise in worldly wisdom.
In order to get out of all self-deception, self-conceit, self-importance, or self-exaltation, the Apostle is admonishing the true Church to "become a fool." In other words, rid yourself of all worldly wisdom and seek the true wisdom of God. Receive the Gospel - the whole counsel of God - leaving nothing out. In so doing, you will become a fool in the world's sight. Go ahead and embrace everything that Jesus has for you. The result? You will expose yourself to the charge of being "a fool for Christ."
Realize this one thing - as long as you cling to the reputation for wisdom that you hold so dearly among your peers, you will never enter into the true wisdom of God.
King Solomon, the wisest man on the earth next to the Lord Jesus, said this - "Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him" (Proverbs 26:12).
Self-conceit is a spiritual disease that has stricken many today - even among the Church. These people are wise in their own eyes...have very little sense...overestimate themselves...have a very good opinion of their own wisdom yet do not see their need for further instruction...and flatter themselves - while concluding that their spiritual state is rather good when - in all actuality - it is really bad.
In Acts 17, we witness a clash between the wisdom of God and the worldly wisdom of that day as the Apostle Paul attempted to preach the Gospel in the synagogue and in the market daily.
Verse 18 tells us - "Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say?..."
It must be noted that every time the Word of God is preached, there is a clash between the world's thinking and that which is of God.
In Paul's day, there were two influential schools of philosophy - which are no different than what we find in our day.
The "Epicureans" were a well known school of atheistic materialists who denied - the Creation...the immortality of the soul...that God ruled over the affairs of mankind or exercised any government over the world and its inhabitants...that man was accountable for what he said or did...or that he was under the administration of the God of Justice. They adhered to the teaching that prescribed that the chief and only end of human existence was pleasure or the gratification of the appetites without restraint. Hence, they devoted themselves to a life of sensuality, idleness, and effeminacy.
The "Stoics" were a class of people who believed in Creation, yet adhered to the thought that all human affairs were governed by Fate. In opposition to the "Epicureans," they embraced the belief that man's passions should be suppressed and restrained. Hence, he should be unmoved by circumstances, changes, or emotions such as joy or grief.
As in the case of the "Epicureans" and the "Stoics," it is found that when a people take in the world's philosophies, they generally despise "plain and pure Christianity" - as Pastor Henry contested.
What was their reaction to Paul's presentation of the Truth of the Gospel?
Acts 17:18 says - "Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say?..."
"Babbler" was a very contemptible term. It was taken from the little bird who picks up seeds or grain along the ground...the gutter swallow who snatches up scraps of food...and the scrap collector searching for junk. It was applied to base, empty, unfit, or talkative men who collected sayings, opinions, or scraps of knowledge from others and peddled them as their own - without fully understanding them.
Here was Paul offering these people the "Bread of Life" and what was their reaction?
"What is this retailer of scraps trying to say?"
The same contempt and ridicule for the "plain Truth" is proceeding from the hearts of men and women today. In comparison to the world's philosophies or way of thinking, they consider it as nothing but "scraps."
And what is the cause for it all?
Many are deceived through the philosophical reasonings of this age. They have placed human wisdom and the arts above the pure and unadulterated Word of God. They have too high an opinion of themselves. They are not yet sensible of their own ignorance and great need for the knowledge and instruction of the Holy Spirit. They have been stricken with the spiritual disease of self-conceit - which makes them wise in their own eyes.
Look around the world today. You will find the "Epicureans" and the "Stoics" - along with many other philosophical schools of thought.
However, if you want anything from God or plan on going higher or deeper in your walk with Him, there is no doubt about it - you must be willing to "become a fool that you may be wise."
Isaiah 55:8 clearly states - "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD."
The ways of the Holy Spirit in reaching people or changing their lives are totally contrary to the ways of this world.
The questions we must ask ourselves as the Church of the Living God are -
Have you embraced "plain and pure Christianity"?
Or do the philosophies of this world still have a hold on your heart?
Are you suffering - along with so many - with the disease of self-conceit - a "Know-it-all" spirit - an attitude whereby you imagine that your way is better than God's?
Your answers will be determined by your reaction to the preaching of the Cross - the call to die to all self importance and to perform a task which oftentimes the world considers to be foolish.
How will you react the next time God asks you to do something that seems bizarre in the eyes of this world?
"He who seems to be wise must become a fool that he may be wise."
Have you become a fool yet?
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved
Subscribe to Daily Bible Messages at - connie@walkingintruth.org
Walking In Truth Ministry | P.O. Box 383016 | Duncanville | TX | 75138
In Matthew Henry's Commentary, we find these statements - "We are in great danger of deceiving ourselves when we have too high an opinion of human wisdom and arts; plain and pure Christianity will be likely to be despised by those who can suit their doctrines to the corrupt taste of their hearers, and set them off with fine language, or support them with a show of deep and strong reasoning. But he who seems to be wise must become a fool that he may be wise. He must be sensible of his own ignorance, and lament it; he must distrust his own understanding, and not lean on it."
"He who seems to be wise must become a fool that he may be wise."
Have you become a fool yet - or are you still holding on to the worldly wisdom of this age?
In 1 Corinthians 3:18, the Apostle Paul stated - "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise."
This message is a call to humility and modesty - a call to -
...renounce the vain conceit of your own wisdom
...obey God - no matter how foolish you may look in the eyes of the world in doing so
...preach the plain and simple Truth of the Word - without attempting to make it appealing "to the corrupt taste of its hearers" by "setting if off with fine language" or "supporting it with a show of deep and strong reasoning."
It is also a warning to all those who have a reputation of being wise or think or pretend to be wise in worldly wisdom.
In order to get out of all self-deception, self-conceit, self-importance, or self-exaltation, the Apostle is admonishing the true Church to "become a fool." In other words, rid yourself of all worldly wisdom and seek the true wisdom of God. Receive the Gospel - the whole counsel of God - leaving nothing out. In so doing, you will become a fool in the world's sight. Go ahead and embrace everything that Jesus has for you. The result? You will expose yourself to the charge of being "a fool for Christ."
Realize this one thing - as long as you cling to the reputation for wisdom that you hold so dearly among your peers, you will never enter into the true wisdom of God.
King Solomon, the wisest man on the earth next to the Lord Jesus, said this - "Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him" (Proverbs 26:12).
Self-conceit is a spiritual disease that has stricken many today - even among the Church. These people are wise in their own eyes...have very little sense...overestimate themselves...have a very good opinion of their own wisdom yet do not see their need for further instruction...and flatter themselves - while concluding that their spiritual state is rather good when - in all actuality - it is really bad.
In Acts 17, we witness a clash between the wisdom of God and the worldly wisdom of that day as the Apostle Paul attempted to preach the Gospel in the synagogue and in the market daily.
Verse 18 tells us - "Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say?..."
It must be noted that every time the Word of God is preached, there is a clash between the world's thinking and that which is of God.
In Paul's day, there were two influential schools of philosophy - which are no different than what we find in our day.
The "Epicureans" were a well known school of atheistic materialists who denied - the Creation...the immortality of the soul...that God ruled over the affairs of mankind or exercised any government over the world and its inhabitants...that man was accountable for what he said or did...or that he was under the administration of the God of Justice. They adhered to the teaching that prescribed that the chief and only end of human existence was pleasure or the gratification of the appetites without restraint. Hence, they devoted themselves to a life of sensuality, idleness, and effeminacy.
The "Stoics" were a class of people who believed in Creation, yet adhered to the thought that all human affairs were governed by Fate. In opposition to the "Epicureans," they embraced the belief that man's passions should be suppressed and restrained. Hence, he should be unmoved by circumstances, changes, or emotions such as joy or grief.
As in the case of the "Epicureans" and the "Stoics," it is found that when a people take in the world's philosophies, they generally despise "plain and pure Christianity" - as Pastor Henry contested.
What was their reaction to Paul's presentation of the Truth of the Gospel?
Acts 17:18 says - "Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say?..."
"Babbler" was a very contemptible term. It was taken from the little bird who picks up seeds or grain along the ground...the gutter swallow who snatches up scraps of food...and the scrap collector searching for junk. It was applied to base, empty, unfit, or talkative men who collected sayings, opinions, or scraps of knowledge from others and peddled them as their own - without fully understanding them.
Here was Paul offering these people the "Bread of Life" and what was their reaction?
"What is this retailer of scraps trying to say?"
The same contempt and ridicule for the "plain Truth" is proceeding from the hearts of men and women today. In comparison to the world's philosophies or way of thinking, they consider it as nothing but "scraps."
And what is the cause for it all?
Many are deceived through the philosophical reasonings of this age. They have placed human wisdom and the arts above the pure and unadulterated Word of God. They have too high an opinion of themselves. They are not yet sensible of their own ignorance and great need for the knowledge and instruction of the Holy Spirit. They have been stricken with the spiritual disease of self-conceit - which makes them wise in their own eyes.
Look around the world today. You will find the "Epicureans" and the "Stoics" - along with many other philosophical schools of thought.
However, if you want anything from God or plan on going higher or deeper in your walk with Him, there is no doubt about it - you must be willing to "become a fool that you may be wise."
Isaiah 55:8 clearly states - "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD."
The ways of the Holy Spirit in reaching people or changing their lives are totally contrary to the ways of this world.
The questions we must ask ourselves as the Church of the Living God are -
Have you embraced "plain and pure Christianity"?
Or do the philosophies of this world still have a hold on your heart?
Are you suffering - along with so many - with the disease of self-conceit - a "Know-it-all" spirit - an attitude whereby you imagine that your way is better than God's?
Your answers will be determined by your reaction to the preaching of the Cross - the call to die to all self importance and to perform a task which oftentimes the world considers to be foolish.
How will you react the next time God asks you to do something that seems bizarre in the eyes of this world?
"He who seems to be wise must become a fool that he may be wise."
Have you become a fool yet?
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved
Subscribe to Daily Bible Messages at - connie@walkingintruth.org
Walking In Truth Ministry | P.O. Box 383016 | Duncanville | TX | 75138
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