by Pastor Rich Carlson

A theme seems to keep reappearing in the beginning of the first letter to the believers in Corinth. The Corinthian believers must have been trying to impact culture and society by focusing on intelligence, power, influence, and importance. In response, I hear Paul say, “If you use those methods to try to convert yourself or others to God, you’re going to be fighting an uphill battle!”

I think there is nothing inherently wrong with those four things. But a major problem does exist if they are my only goals in life, rather than being potential ways to win people to Christ. Paul, who had all those things and more, spoke the verse for today. “I resolve,” he said, “to know nothing, to think nothing, to use nothing,” except to “be a demonstration of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

“Our message,” said Paul, “is a message of wisdom,” but only to the mature (2:6) It is “a message that God revealed to us through His Spirit, which searches all things, even the deep things of God…. And I’m not going to use human wisdom to express it either. I’m going to express spiritual truths in spiritual words (2:10-13).”

Vocabulary can be a good indicator of wisdom. Maybe a good exercise in life would be to develop my spiritual "vocabulary" so God has a richer repertoire of descriptors to use in me as He lives out His message through me to the “wise” of this world who are searching to understand Him.

I have nothing to be ashamed of as I discover the “wisdom” of God. But, be warned. It’s not often going to be understood by the “secular mind.” Paul says it is going to seem like foolishness to her or him. My life can have impact for eternal good only if my mind is being directed by the Spirit to use God’s methods, God’s priorities, God’s love. When that happens, it is beyond intelligence, power, influence and importance. That’s what I call a "God-thing" because I have connected and learned His ways and words.

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.