The Great And Boundless Wisdom Of God
Some will scoff at this statement. Some will immediately dismiss it, just because it is attributed to John Calvin. Some will nod in agreement, yet not see themselves included as one of the ‘evil instruments’. Some will even go as far as to say, ‘How can a loving god allow evil like _____ in the world?’ I’m sure you’ve never said anything like that, right? It’s important that we (Christians and non-Christians alike) recognize that if there is a god, then we couldn’t begin to comprehend the extent of his wisdom. I’d like to point us to a passage of the Bible which really highlights the differences between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of man…
1Co 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1Co 1:19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
1Co 1:20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
1Co 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
1Co 1:22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,
1Co 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
1Co 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1Co 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1Co 1:26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
1Co 1:27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
1Co 1:28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,
1Co 1:29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
1Co 1:30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
1Co 1:31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
—1 Corinthians 1:18-31
That’s a longer passage, but worth reading through a few times. Please allow me to point out a few things. First, we are not big fans of boasting in anything or anyone but ourselves. To boast in the Lord is an unnatural thing to do for humans. When it comes to anything, but especially with wisdom, we like to be the ones who get the credit. ‘I knew that.’ We’ve all wanted everyone to know that we know things since we were kids (even when we didn’t ‘know that’). Why? Because we’re wise in our own eyes and like to be seen as wise in the eyes of others. To quote one of my favorite teachers, Voddie Baucham, “If you can’t say ‘amen’ you oughta say ‘ouch’”. Second, if we look carefully at this passage, we will see what God does to the ‘wise’. It’s not pretty. Third, we can see what God chose. It’s the opposite of how the ‘wise’ of this world would choose. And all of these things are done not only to display God’s wisdom and to shame the wise, but also so that nobody would boast. This is one area we’ll always struggle with, even as professing Christians…
I’d like to particularly challenge the Christians who believe they chose God and that when it comes to salvation, man’s free will played at least some part and is comparable or greater than God predestining this decision. Besides this passage, there are many that state unequivocally that God made the choice to save us. There are also various places which state there is nobody good but God alone. That means we were all evil people who wouldn’t choose God based off our own wisdom. In other words, we were foolish. God, in His love, mercy and wisdom decided He would save some of us from His wrath, despite our evil nature (sinfulness) and foolishness. We see that He did this to shame the wise and for His glory (so that no human may boast in the presence of God). So, if we are trying to claim ANY credit for our salvation, are we not claiming to have some wisdom (at least enough to choose Him), deny our evil nature to some extent (God must’ve saw some good in me), and/or trying to claim some of the glory of this decision for ourselves? If this is the beginning of our walk with God, then aren’t we kind of getting off on the wrong foot or possibly missing the main point completely? We were foolish and evil, yet God chose us. Why? To be instruments for His glory and to do good in the world ACCORDING TO HIS WISDOM, NOT OURS. Brothers and sisters, I beg you to reconsider your boasting in this area. This is not merely some theological debate. If you cling to this, it’s actually an attempted coup against God. You desire to have His glory and power so much that you won’t concede that God made the choice to save you, WITHOUT YOUR INPUT, IN HIS WISDOM, BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, AND BEFORE YOU EVEN BEGAN TO DISPLAY YOUR SINFULNESS AND FOOLISHNESS! Why else would you do that other than out of a desire to boast? I get the urge, but that doesn’t make it any less foolish, and you aren’t acting any less like the ‘wise’ in the selected Bible passage in this post. Rather than stake your identity in Christ on something which is untrue, why not rejoice at the fact you are one of the evil instruments He chose to save and use for good?! The great and boundless wisdom of God is truly something!