For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
1 Corinthians 1:25
It’s odd to think about God being foolish or weak, isn’t it? Whenever I read today’s passage, it makes me wonder if the apostle Paul was trying to shock the Corinthians into listening to what he had to say.
It could have been hyperbole; maybe something like “even if God were weak, He’d still be stronger than you…and the rest of the universe combined.” Or maybe irony - that what we call foolishness is actually wisdom, that what we deem weakness is true strength.
Because Paul was talking about the gospel, you know? God’s foolishness was in loving humanity and choosing to pay the price of our sin. In God, omnipotent, omniscient, perfect in every way God, deciding to put on humanity and be born into time and space as Jesus, “taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7) and allowing himself to be insulted, jeered, mocked, humiliated…and killed.
How much strength does it take for someone who deserves all the world to stand and accept the scorn of people who should be honoring and worshiping him instead? How foolish is it to sacrifice yourself for people who would rather see you dead than accept the good and perfect gifts you want to give them?
And yet, thanks to that foolishness, we are alive and have hope for eternity. Thanks to that weakness, we are granted forgiveness with no strings attached. Thanks to God, we exist. And more than exist. We are able to thrive. To love. To enjoy life and all its benefits, even in a world as dark and cold as ours.
The wisdom of the world leads to pain and suffering. Just look at what’s happening in and around Israel today. Or the Ukraine. Don’t even get me started on human history. War, retribution, fighting over what’s “ours” and seeking “justice” for past wrongs…worldly wisdom separates us and has us fighting viciously for our piece of the pie; for our share of limited resources. We look down on those who don’t have the confidence to “pull themselves up by their bootstraps” or “get theirs.” We raise our children to believe in meritocracy - which is great when it leads to hard work and diligence, but which can also lead to contempt of those weaker or less capable than ourselves. Or self-contempt, when we can’t match up to our own expectations.
Friend, I hope and pray that as you continue your journey through life, that you would be surrounded by people who subscribe to God’s brand of foolishness and weakness. Who are open, honest, generous, forgiving, peaceful, merciful. I pray for you, as I do for myself, that you will also subscribe to the same, and that you will be a blessing to those around you. Because how wonderful is it when we can go through life knowing that we have each other’s backs? To know that we are not alone? To know that we are loved?
Because you are.
