Who would like to be rich enough that you never had to be concerned for your needs?
In the beginning, on the 6th day of creation…
And we had all we needed. But we wanted more…
At the fall sin entered the created world and the ground became cursed because of the rebellion, the sin of Adam and Eve, because of their failure to love God. And while we may rule over the earth now, it is not as it was supposed to be. See Genesis 3. We walked away from God.
We fell to the lie of the enemy; first in doubting the word of God, ‘Did God really say’ and second, ‘you will be like God.’ Those words still haunt us, the enemy still whispers to cause mankind to doubt the Word of God, and we still seek to be like God; wise in our own eyes. The World’s wisdom is more power, more money, be independent, self-made, self- sufficient, get what you want. Take pride in who you are, what you have accomplished, in all you have, and fulfill the desires of the flesh.
God’s Wisdom tells us to depend on Him, to humble yourself, deny yourself; He says that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. The lord commands us to put to death what belongs to our earthly nature in Colossians 3. In Philippians 4 that He will supply all your needs. And if the Lord is your shepherd then you will not need (Psalm 23). In Micah 6:8, “Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the LORD requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.” These things, to the world, are foolishness.
Through God’s wisdom we are brought back into the community of God; we are again given all that we need… not because of anything you or I did, but because Of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ and Him crucified!
To the world, the things that cause us to believe and have faith in God are absolutely foolish: the virgin birth, Jesus’ resurrection, a place called Heaven and Hell… But, when you realize that you are a lost sinner, that you need to be saved from everlasting punishment in Hell, and how that can only happen through believing in the wisdom of God that He sent His only Son in the form of a baby, born of a virgin, to live a perfect life on this earth, die on a cross, and be resurrected from the dead after 3 days. Then it doesn’t matter if people think you are foolish, stupid, or an uneducated bumpkin. Once you accept God’s gift of salvation, people may think you are foolish, but God says you are wise and rich.
But you have to give your life to Him, hand over authority of your life to Him, submit to His will and become His. Because in Christ we have everything we need, “For whenever someone says, ‘I belong to Paul,’ and another, ‘I belong to Apollos,’ are you not acting like mere humans?” (3:4)
Worldly wisdom was prized and the philosophers of Paul’s day believed that everything belonged to the wise person. So he is twisting it around and applying it to the person wise in Christ who would be considered foolish by worldly standards. It is not ‘I belong to Paul’, ‘I belong to Apollos’, or ‘I belong to Peter’ (1:12, 3:4) it is that Apollos and Paul and Peter belonged to them; for that matter to us, and were there for their benefit and growth in Christ!
God in his wisdom causes all things and people: every teacher sent from Him, every situation, every circumstance to work for your good. All of these things can become a blessing to you, IF you abide faithful to your calling to love God and others as a member of a local church. Ministers in and of the Church are appointed for the hearers, not the hearers for the ministers and everyone is to minister as members of His Church. Romans 12:5 puts it this way “we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.”
When we stop to think about all the people and fellowships, traditions, and denominations that people follow we have to remember it is not ‘I belong to the Baptist, the Presbyterian, the Methodist…’, we as individuals and fellowships, traditions all belong to Christ Jesus… we are members one of another. There is only one Church and it is His Church and we are all here to serve God and one another. And as members of His church, His family, He “will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
My Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills – Psalm 50:10
Digging Deeper
- Who is it that you follow, listen to, and are influenced by?
- Have you given authority over your life to God?
- Do you belong to Him or someone or something else?
Further reading:
Matthew 6:25-34 (32-33), Acts 17:25, Romans 8:28-29, Philippians 4:19, 2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 13:5-6, Romans 12:5
Dayton First Church of God 