February 10, 2014
I SPY A WEAKNESS . . . I SPY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GOD'S POWER!
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Lisa Lopez
Central Truth
God's ways appear foolish to the world. God deliberately chooses to use those the world perceives as foolish or weak so His strength alone is seen. By doing this, God gets all the glory, and He humbles those who think they are strong.
Key Verse | 1 Corinthians 1:26–27
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. (1 Corinthians 1:26-27)
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach 1 1:21 Or the folly of preaching to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, 2 1:26 Greek according to the flesh not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being 3 1:29 Greek no flesh might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him 4 1:30 Greek And from him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Dive Deeper | 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
God is drawn to weakness and often chooses to use people the world perceives as weak. Why does He do this? Because God wants people to boast only in Him, not their own abilities. "[L]et him who boasts, boast in the Lord." (verse 31, NASB) I take comfort in knowing God can use people that the world may consider foolish or weak, because I am aware of how frequently I fit into both categories!
I am a survivor of past sexual abuse, which is something the world would certainly consider a weakness. However, I have found that God has used this "weakness" to bring glory to Himself in ways I never dreamed possible. His strength, faithfulness, and unfailing love is shown through the extravagant ways He's healed me.
I will never forget being in the Democratic Republic of Congo in March 2010 with a Watermark team counseling other female survivors of sexual abuse. When we first arrived, the Congolese women were very guarded. They later admitted that they saw us as rich American women who had no problems. We wanted nothing more than to share God's love with them, but it seemed as if there was a wall between us. God began to work, as our team openly shared our own stories of sexual abuse and how Jesus healed us. It was obvious God broke through to the Congolese women through our weaknesses, not our eloquence. We boasted in the Lord's great love for us, and it was enough.
I have heard it said before that people admire you for your strengths, but connect with you through your weaknesses. As strange as this may sound, I am hopeful when I hear someone admit a weakness. I see that weakness as pure potential for God to work in a mighty way through that person as they depend on Him.
Be open and share your weaknesses with others. In doing so, someone may empathize with you. You can then use that connection as an opportunity to share the love of Christ with them.
Discussion Questions
1. Do you see your weaknesses as opportunities for God to shine His power through you? See 2 Corinthians 12:9. Does this encourage you and give you hope?
2. In what ways have you been foolish or weak? Will you take a minute to thank God for His amazing ability to work through your foolishness and weaknesses to glorify Himself?
3. Do you judge others for their weakness (and perhaps even put them in a box, thinking they could not do certain things)? Will you instead pray for God to work in that person's life in such a way that He can use that weakness for His glory? He is big enough to do that! See Mark 9:23.