2008-04-01 01:01:00
"Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a 'fool' so that he may become wise" (1 Corinthians 3:18).
Saturday evening we went to a banquet sponsored by Transport for Christ, an international ministry to truck drivers. Brooksyne and I do some work with TFC as we tie them into our devotional messages and provide follow-up care for readers who express a need. These large banquets are a fixture here in Lancaster County and there were over 500 people in attendance for a big Pennsylvania Dutch "family style" meal. This was followed by a presentation about TFC and an opportunity to donate to this worthwhile ministry.
The main entertainment was provided by a local ventriloquist called Ryan and three of his ventriloquist friends. Since I work with the ministry I was "volunteered" from among the crowd, along with other staff members, to assist him (though he certainly needed no assistance.) Ryan is an extremely talented young man whom I can vouch for. As I “trained” right beside him I was amazed that he scarcely moved his lips while he worked two dummies and used three very convincing character voices.
Ryan assigned me the role of ventriloquist trainee (definitely not my calling). I held the grandma dummy and attempted to open her mouth at the right times. Actually I was thoroughly played for the dummy! I would say the crowd had some especially rambunctious laughter at my expense. My, did I ever feel foolish. (Brooksyne’s note: He also looked extremely foolish.)
I knew a pastor in New Jersey a number of years ago who started a church on April Fools’ Day (which is April 1 here in America). His very first message had this interesting title: "I'm a fool for Christ, whose fool are you?" I have long appreciated the sentiment of missionary martyr Jim Elliot who wrote, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
Let's examine today's verse. One's wisdom is generally evaluated by the standards of this age. We are living in a time when so many have varying degrees of advanced education which does not necessarily have anything to do with wisdom.
Paul begins the verse: "Do not deceive yourselves." Self deception is the most dangerous form of deception. It’s often easier for us to assess objectively when we’re looking on rather than looking within. "Cursed are those who seem wise to themselves, and who take pride in their knowledge" (Isaiah 5:21).
"If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age..." The standards of this age constantly change. Much information that at one time was considered the most certain findings in science and other fields has changed. In some cases what had been a consensus 50 years ago has now been thoroughly debunked, and who knows what issues will be debunked in the future. Actually when we get to the other side I suspect a lot of what seemed so certain here will be debunked there!
The verse continues: "He should become a ‘fool’ so that he may become wise." It's significant that the NIV placed the quotation marks around fool. Those who follow Christ are increasingly seen as "fools" by worldly standards. For instance I testify unashamedly to my belief in the Biblical account of creation. Many in the world now mock at this belief and I am seen by some as "dangerous" for holding this view.
Let’s make it our goal in life to be wise in God's estimation, not the changing standards thrust on us by this present age.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: God of all wisdom, we come to you seeking Your direction in our lives. We ask for a discerning heart so that we can effectively lead the people entrusted to our care. We need Your wisdom to distinguish between right and wrong, truth and error. As we pray in the Spirit and absorb Your Word into our hearts we will walk uprightly and do justly. It is a natural outflow of Your wisdom and Spirit that abides within us as we choose to walk in Your ways. Be our vision during the light of day and darkness of night; whether waking or sleeping we yield my all to You, Omniscient Father. Amen.
Chaplain Stephen and Brooksyne Weber serve with Transport for Christ. Click here to contact the Webers.
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