Since I was young, I’ve been wanting to be smart. I would be happy whenever someone would tell me that I was. As time passes by, my definition of “being smart” or “intelligence” has changed. For me, it is inappropriate to make a generalization that someone is “smart” and another is stupid because a person can be “smart” at one aspect and be wholly stupid at another; in the same way, be stupid at one aspect and be “smart” at another. It is always a combination of the two (though their extent differs), and I hope we’re on the same page.
You see, however we may define “intelligence”, God has a way different view on the subject. 1 Corinthians 3:19a (NIV) says,
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight.”
Are you a fool, just like me?
Let’s go celebrate because there’s still good news for us! He can still use us for His glory!
Isn’t that fantastic or is it beyond awesome?
It’s so much of a privilege to be used by Him, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world!
C’mon, call me a fool!
If being so means being of service to my God, it will surely be my pleasure!
Here is what God has made known to Pastor Christine Caine about this foolishness that I’m talking about.
Transcript:
It’s kinda like a crazy story, but the thing that I’ve discovered is God’s always kind of used really unusual, unnamed, unwanted widows to make a difference.
You know, we talked about it in the Bible, but it’s happening in the 21st century if you would just let yourself be that “person”. You know the ordinary person that you think: “How can I make a difference?”
And you know, 1 Corinthians 1:27 (NKJV) says, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.”
And I always love (this) ’cause I think this is my story. Foolish, I’m qualified. Weak, I’m qualified. The least likely, I’m qualified.
Could you imagine if we stop trying to be cool? If we stop trying to impress each other with what we’ve done? And where we go? And what my doctrine is? And how intellectual I am, and how smart I am, and how sleek I am, and how cool I am. And we just said you know what? “I’m a fool for Christ! I’m a 45-year old woman that is just a fool for Christ!” because God has always used foolish people.
Do you know how foolish Noah looked building an ark in the desert? Can you imagine what people would’ve said?
“Noah, what are you doing?”
“I’m building an ark.”
“What’s an ark?”
“I don’t know.”
“But rain’s coming.”
“What’s rain?”
“I haven’t got a clue.”
“So I’m building an unknown for I haven’t got a clue.”
Can you imagine how foolish Moses looked as he turned up to the Red Sea? He’s got a little stick.
“What are you gonna do with your little rod, Moses?”
“I don’t know, but there’s an Egyptian army behind us and the Red Sea in front of us, but I got my stick.”
It’s kinda how I feel with A21 all the time.
How foolish did Sarah look in the maternity ward in Walmart?
“Sarah, what are you looking for?”
“Maternity clothes.”
“Why?”
“I’m havin’ a baby.”
They would’ve thought she was like smoking crack.
And then you’ve got the Israelites. How foolish did they look doing laps around Jericho? Just lapping around. Kind of might look a bit foolish like a whole group of 200 churches in a basketball stadium in Miami. Looks a bit weird to the world. You’re all coming together. You look a little bit weird. What might you be doing?
Or how foolish David looked with his little slingshot and a mighty Goliath?
Or how foolish Esther looked as she went into the King when she was in summon?
Or how foolish the four lepers looked at the gate of Samaria with the Syrian army inside?
Or how foolish Caleb looked to an 85 said, “You know what Joshua, I don’t want my 401(k). I don’t want my little Winnebago camp event. I’m not retiring. I’m 85. I’m as young now as I was then.” That’s what Francis was talking about at the end.
How foolish did the wise men look when they were on their little camel? And they go, “What are you lookin’ for?” As they’re lookin’ at a star, and they’re like, “A Messiah.”
How foolish did Peter look stepping out of a boat in the middle of a lake?
How foolish did the woman with the issue of blood look as she reached up to the hem of His garment, believing that God might just heal her?
How foolish did Paul and Silas look as they sang with their hands in chains in a prison cell?
How foolish did the little boy look with a couple of pieces of fish and some bread and 5,000 people that needed to be fed?
How foolish did Mary look as she turned up to Joseph and said, “It was an angel.” But anyway, that’s another story.
How foolish did Jesus Christ certainly look to so many as He stood half-naked on a cross, and a whole lot of people looked around and said, “That’s your Messiah? That’s your Savior? That’s the King of the Jews? That’s the guy that was gonna help you?”
But you know what I’ve discovered? From Genesis to Revelation, God has always used ordinary, foolish people or foolish things to do extraordinary things. Let me just tell you what the results are when you dare to be a fool for God!
You know what happened?
Noah and his family, they were saved from the flood. Moses did see the Red Sea part. Sarah gave birth to Isaac. The Israelites saw the walls of Jericho come down. David defeated Goliath. Esther stopped the Jewish genocide. The lepers saw the Syrian army flee. Caleb did get Hebron. The wise men found the Messiah. Peter walked on water. The woman with the issue of blood was healed. Paul and Silas were set free. The little boy’s lunch fed five thousand. Mary gave birth to the Messiah. And JESUS CHRIST got off that cross. He defeated hell! He defeated death! And that same Spirit lives on the inside of you and me in Jesus’ name.
“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, So that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, ‘LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.'” – 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 NASB
Related articles:
The People God Uses | The Humble Servant | Feelings of Inadequacy | Fool For Christ | A Fool For Christ | A Fool For Christ | God Can And Will Use You | I’m A Fool For Christ | Christ in a Fool’s Clothing, Or a Fool in Christ’s Clothing
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