1 Corinthians 3:18

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

Become a fool? To become wise? Something just didn’t add up at first glance,

It just didn’t make sense for me, and, as a paradox is wont to do, it took me outside of my usual way of thinking.

Early in my faith, when I came across a passage such as we are considering today, I would read it, “believe it” and move on. After all, as believers we are to trust the Lord and the message He has provided. It was my desire to believe it, for the Word has the message of eternal life, the story of the Christ who died and rose again. 

How could I not believe the Word? 

Yet, as I tried to understand faith, I always was a bit nebulous about my approach of to the message reading and “believing”. Years passed and I accumulated head knowledge, and the Lord was kind to his child. And then I heard a fellow speak of what faith was. And it blew me away – which speaks volumes of my ignorance, but so be it!

Faith is reading the Word, understanding the Word and then finding application of the message for my situation. For this verse, when it came to the added step of understanding the Word, this is where this verses paradox came to fruition.

Become a fool to be wise? What is Paul saying there? Remember I am one of those analytical goofs, always seeking to use a logical framework for my understanding. Things have to add up for me to feel like I understand something.

The Lord was also teaching me at the time about the kingdom spoken of by the Messiah, and of His apostles. So much relearning of what the gospel was communicating, but for this verse, the critical piece of information was that we exist in the middle of two kingdoms. The kingdom of the world, which is fading, and about to be rolled up, and the eternal kingdom, which has secure foundations, never to decay. 

And we, as believers are in a transition, from the decaying world order into the glorious kingdom of His dear Son! In this transition, we are required to give up (or per Paul’s language – put off) the old worlds thoughts, attitudes, and actions that we lived in. No longer lie. No longer cheat, or steal or covet, or hate. In positive terms, to live in the Spirit as He transforms us to the people we are to be.

This is the framework Paul is speaking from when he speaks of becoming a fool. A fool to the ways we lived in prior to knowing the Messiah. We are to become ignorant of the old ways, abandon the conventional wisdom, consider old thoughts suspect, even dangerous to our soul. 

To become a fool to the old ways is to replace that wisdom with the wisdom that is available from God, the wisdom found in the Messiah, in His ways, in His humility, grace, servanthood and sacrificial life style.

As you read of the life we are called to, a life of forgiveness and love, and if you consider it outdated or not applicable, please realize this may indicate which kingdom you consider worth pursuing. For where your treasure is, there will be your heart!

In what kingdom are you wise?

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