The Fellowship of the Simple Mind - 2

For you see your calling, brethren, how not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has 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, has 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 you 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 glories, let him glory in the Lord. 1 Cor. 1:26-31

Suffice it to say, I fit that description. Oh yes, God chose foolish me. I was 30 when the Lord revealed Himself to me in the Gospel according to John. He saved me according to His Word when I cried out to Him in shame and guilt. Did I then cease to be foolish? Not in the flesh. But I began to understand.

O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. Prov. 8:5

I understand that in the flesh I am foolish and wicked, but in Christ I am made wise, righteous and free.

But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. 
1 Cor. 1:30


So I was called, being one of the foolish… and I see the "calling" now as I was also one of the weak. Oh yes, I was never very "aggressive" in my youth. In fact I was appropriately characterized as "meek". So it did my heart good to find the scripture, Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Matt. 5:5. Moreover, I now understood the quality in the differences.

God chose the weak to shame the strong, vs. 27… Interesting. God is declaring to the strong, the stubborn, the stiff-necked… "I can not have you because you assert your will over Mine, you will not humble yourselves". How can a father/son relationship work if the son tries to tell the father what to do? But if you come as a little child, then He will make you strong.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  Matt. 18:4
And also, Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.   Luke 18:17

Therefore, I became wise and strong… in Christ. And instead of being "despised" by the world (not esteemed, of no account), I am now made "a vessel unto honor" Rom. 9:21. God did all this. There is not an ounce of my own effort in that work. There cannot be, for two reasons.
1.  I had not the power nor even the desire to redeem myself.
2.  If I did have the power of "works" I would proudly boast about it, which would then sinfully invalidate the righteousness.

God chose "things that are not"…i.e., of no account, not worthy, outcasts of worldly society; to bring down to nothing those "things that are"… i.e., those things that are highly esteemed by the world… so that no one could boast in His presence. The Gospel of Christ would be manifestly and solely the power of God. God resists the proud… Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  James 4:6; see also Ps.138:6; Prov. 3:34; Matt. 23:12; 1 Pet. 5:5.
God would hold in contempt the pride of self-righteous men.

For I think God has displayed us apostles last, like men condemned to die: We have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honorable, but we are despised. 1 Cor. 4:9-10.