To people of the world, Christianity is foolishness.  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.”  People of the world do not appreciate why the cross is important.  They see that Jesus was convicted by the Roman authorities and made to die a most humiliating and brutal death by being nailed to a cross.  It seems foolishness to them to hold such a death as important.  As Christians, we understand that Jesus, the Son of God, was sacrificed for us.  He lived a perfect, sinless life and then He became the substitute for us and took the penalty for our sins.  Through His death we have life – eternal life.  He proved His power over death by being resurrected from the dead.  To us, the cross is not foolishness, but God’s wisdom and power. 

Let us continue on in 1 Corinthians 1:19-25 “For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.’  Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.  For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”  God has the power of the universe at His command so He is far stronger than anything man can devise.  God is so much wiser than man; He created the universe so he knows how everything works.  In His wisdom, He developed a plan from the beginning of creation for the saving of mankind through Jesus Christ.

Many scientists and scholars present themselves as wise.  They reject the existence of God and believe that they can explain the world of today through evolution.  But see what the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 1:18-23 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.”  The “wise” men of the first century changed the glory of God into idols that looked like man, birds, four-footed animals and creeping things.  Today, the “wise” men change the glory of God into random chance, evolution and survival of the fittest.  But they willingly ignore God’s invisible attributes as clearly seen and understood by the things that He has made.  Their foolish hearts are darkened.

There are many things that the world today holds as wisdom but God sees as foolishness.  They say that it is wise for a man and a woman to live together without marriage so they can know if they are compatible.  They also imply that you can have sex with anyone you choose.  God teaches us the need for commitment in marriage and reserves sexual oneness for the marriage bed.  The world says that use of recreational drugs, partying and drunkenness are fun; if it feels good, do it.  God teaches that we should be sober, righteous, self-controlled and deny ourselves.  (Galatians 5:19-24)

The world teaches that the outward appearance is important.  Women spend many minutes every day applying their makeup and doing their hair.  The world teaches that the clothes you wear are important for making an impression on others.  1 Peter 3:3-4 “Do not let your adornment be merely outward — arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel —  rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

The world teaches us that those who are in positions of authority and have many who serve them are great people.  Matthew 20:25-28 “But Jesus called them to Himself and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.  Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.  And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.’”  God’s wisdom is that we should serve each other in love.

The world teaches us that we should want to be rich; the more you have, the greater you are.  The Bible teaches otherwise.  James 2:5 “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”

I encourage you to seek the wisdom of God and reject the wisdom of this world that is foolishness to God.  1 Corinthians 3:18-19 “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.”