Becoming Worldly Fools (Part 1 of 2)

1 Corinthians 3:18-23
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. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

Recalling the Foundation: Building on Christ

From our previous context in 1 Corinthians 3, we saw that Godly activity—profitable, meaningful work with eternal value—is like building with gold, silver, and precious stones. This will endure the test of fire on the day of judgment. In contrast, work built with wood, hay, or straw will burn up.

The kind of work we do upon the foundation of Jesus Christ will be revealed by fire. If it lacks centrality to the gospel, spiritual significance, or glorification of God, it is pointless and will be burned away. This reveals a lack of diligence in our Christianity. Even if such works are lost, salvation remains—but there is loss of reward.

There is a greater degree of Christianity we should pursue, beyond mere salvation. Empowered by God's grace and the Holy Spirit, we can live to our greatest potential, doing deeds worthy of reward. Salvation itself is a reward, but not the specific one referenced here. Whatever the reward, it will be magnificent because it comes from God.

The church divisions—aligning with Paul, Apollos, or Cephas—highlighted a lack of unity. These leaders were merely servants, their lasting work benefiting us today. They created opportunities for us to participate in rewarding deeds.

The Core Issue: Worldly Wisdom vs. Godly Wisdom

Paul returns to the big issue: how we understand reality through our worldview, particularly wisdom versus foolishness. Paul, Apollos, and Cephas brought godly wisdom, exposing worldly wisdom as foolishness before God.

If anyone thinks he is wise according to this age—or this world, terms used interchangeably in the New Testament—they are fools from a biblical perspective. This applies to any age, including our postmodern era of relativism, where absolute truth is rejected.

True wisdom, God's wisdom, is real and beneficial. It guides through life's trials: death, betrayal, ministry, career, education. It provides a template for living. Yet embracing it requires a hurdle: detachment from worldly principles.

Let No One Deceive Himself

Paul commands: let no one deceive himself. He doesn't blame external forces—demons, philosophers, or cultural voices—but self-deception. We are prone to trust our instincts, feelings, intellect, and experiences over God's truth.

Without objective truth—the Word of God—to discern situations, we guarantee self-deception. This affects spouse selection, jobs, friendships, and more. Without God's wisdom, we miss the mark in decisions and behavior.

Consider relationships: If someone lacks God's wisdom, why expect them to meet your needs? This litmus test applies to activities too. If an activity yields no spiritual benefit or hinders it, why pursue it? Even if not explicitly sinful, it may be biblically foolish.

To determine right and wrong where Scripture is silent: Is it wise or moronic biblically? If the latter, adjust.

Become a Fool to Become Wise

If you think yourself wise by worldly standards, become a fool—that is, a worldly fool—to gain godly wisdom. Engage deeply with the Word: not just reading, but mutual interaction where it exposes sin and imparts righteousness. Listen to Scripture explained, fellowship with believers to avoid self-deception.

Measure actions against God's wisdom. As you abandon worldly principles for godly ones, the world will see you as a fool or moron. This impacts reputation, friendships, and unbelieving relationships, creating tension.

In a room with a wise person and a fool, the world values the wise. Increasing in godly wisdom means decreasing in worldly wisdom, making the world's ways nonsensical to you—and yours to them.

1 Peter 4:1-4
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you.

The world lives for human passions, contrary to God's will. When you refuse, they are shocked and malign you. If you coexist seamlessly with unbelievers without tension, have you truly grown in godly wisdom?

The Advantage of Godly Wisdom

Godly wisdom knows the best way to live, applying knowledge to situations—like an experienced captain navigating a storm. It excels spiritually: in counseling Alzheimer's-affected spouses, grieving deaths, or timing scriptural comfort.

Worldly advice fails; godly wisdom endures, glorifies God, and yields eternal reward. God exposes worldly wisdom's inconsistency.

Job 5:13
He catches the wise in their craftiness.

God dismantles worldly schemes, proving them contradictory. Compare any philosophy or activity to God's Word: Does it maximize His glory? Live not mediocrity, but to full potential for God's glory and our good.

The Lord Knows Our Thoughts

He quotes Psalm 94:11:

The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.

This is haunting because we often think our thoughts are private—malicious thoughts toward others, insulting or irritated thoughts, or dwelling on something sinful. Yet the Lord knows every one. We act differently if others see, but He sees it all.

The main idea is that the Lord knows the thoughts of man and the reality behind the world's wisdom. It's insignificant, offering no profit or value to your life—like every breath exhaled during a sermon. How many remember my breaths? How many have they impacted or benefited you? None. This is why Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:20:

The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.

They're pointless, vain—like all of Ecclesiastes.

Do Not Boast in Men

Verse 21 says,

Let no one boast in men.

People gravitate to catchy or profound sayings from someone specific, boasting in men—Apollos, Cephas, Paul, or others. But don't boast in them, especially given verses 21-23:

All things are yours... whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

It's not literal ownership of these men. Like Ephesians saying the church is built on the foundation of prophets and apostles, it's not about digging up bones. These are servants building God's temple, planting in His field, working the gospel into your lives. Their doctrine, teaching, and wisdom belong to you. Every time you read the New Testament and marvel at Paul writing half of it—that's yours. Apollos, Peter—they're yours in their wisdom as servants and stewards of God's mysteries.

The way they lived for God's glory is your opportunity: live like an apostle, not like one whose work is destroyed.

All Things Are Yours

It's not just Paul, Apollos, and Cephas. The world is yours, life is yours, death is yours, the present and future are yours. Paul isn't saying the world's wisdom is foolishness so go ahead and take it. It's about applying biblical wisdom to these key areas of reality.

How do you view the world biblically? It's yours. Function in it, grasp current events and significance—yours. The meaning of life? Yours in Scripture: God glorifies Himself in your salvation; you worship and enjoy Him eternally. Death? A wage of sin, but it can't hurt you. Jesus said in John 11:

I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.

That's yours.

Understanding the present, planning the future—all yours in the context of God's wisdom for proper living. Don't boast in men; boast in the Lord Jesus Christ who gave you these principles for life's crucial aspects. You are Christ's, and Christ is God's—His possession, securing your inheritance for life and godliness.

It's a beautiful ending, focusing everything on Christ and God.