Not many mighty

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. – 1 Corinthians 1.26-31

This is one of the most encouraging passages to me personally in all of the word of God. I think I like it because it always reminds me that God can and does use people like me.

I would that God would use the smartest guys or the most athletic or talented or the richest and highest class people to have an impact on the world. Surely those people could do a better job that people like you and me.

Sometimes God does use those folks – but most of the time He uses the foolish and weak and based and despised, and yes, even the nobodies like us to do His work. God doesn’t need to use the highly skill or super educated or best trained or most knowledgeable to get His work done.

How does that make sense? Why not use the superstars?

Paul answers that – if God used the wise and rich and upper crust and the talented and the ‘somebodies’ they might be more inclined to claim the credit and take the glory to themselves. We see ministries like that all the time where the leaders is the one lifted up instead of the Saviour.

Here we are reminded that no one can glory in the flesh. We can only glory in the truth Jesus has been made our wisdom our righteousness our sanctification and our redemption.

Paul and this section is quoting Jeremiah – let him that glories glory only in the Lord.