My mother predicted when I started college out of state that I would probably never move back home. She had a feeling I would meet a boy and stay in Oregon. Well, I did in fact meet a guy, but what she hadn’t counted on was the guy signing up for the Air Force right out of college. So, when I graduated, I moved across the country to Maryland to be near my fiancé who was two years into medical school. When it came time to move, my now husband found a classmate that was willing to rent a room to me. Looking back, we really didn’t even consider living together before getting married. I can see how this would have seemed foolish to people not trying to follow the same Christian rules. Why would I get my own place when Richard had a townhouse we could share? Why would I live across town when we had so little time together with his demanding school schedule and my full-time job? Why would we waste money on my rent when we were living in a very expensive city outside DC? Living together would have been the “wise” choice by the world’s standards, but we were striving to follow the wisdom we thought would set the best foundation for our Christian marriage. We were following a different set of rules that led us down a path that maybe looked foolish to the secular world.

The people of the time this letter was written were very proud of their current leaders and their wisdom. My Bible footnote says, “The Corinthians were boasting about the wisdom of their leaders and teachers. Their pride made them value the presentation of the message more than the message.” They might have been putting the wisdom of “great thinkers” above the teachings of Christ. Paul is advising them that they have things backwards, that they may need to look foolish to truly follow God’s wisdom. For the most part, it is human nature to want to be liked and to fit in, but as Christians, we are often called to look foolish, like when I didn’t move in with my fiancé when I moved across the country after college.  

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Despite that one wise choice that I feel has contributed to a healthy 22-year marriage, I have done many other things in my life to fit in or only based on my own “good” ideas that were ultimately foolishness in God’s eyes. Our spirits are willing, but our flesh is weak. So how do we keep ourselves from falling into the foolishness of the world? Here are a few ideas: Pray that the Holy Spirit would convict your heart in areas where you are following the world’s wisdom. Diligently study God’s Word so that you may better understand what true wisdom looks like. Surround yourself with Christian community so that you can check your understanding with the understanding of other believers who are also seeking God’s wisdom above the world’s.

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Creator of the heavens and the earth, your ways are so far above our ways. We stand in awe, God, of your goodness and your wisdom. Help us to put aside the foolish things of this world to follow after you whole-heartedly, knowing that your path for our lives is always better. Please “catch” us when we try to be crafty and twist your truth to serve ourselves. Put us back in the wisdom of your Word to ground us in who you are. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.