Monday 09 March 2020

Last week’s readings were from the early part of Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church. In chapter one there is much about wisdom, including these words in verse 30: “(God) is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God ...” Today’s reading tries to draw together some themes from these three early chapters and centres on where the church in Corinth was looking for authority. We might do well to ask ourselves the same question.

Paul is clearly disappointed with what is going on in Corinthian Christian circles. “Wise in this age” (v. 18) is surely a reference to the folly of passing fashions. “You should become fools so that you may become wise” (v. 18) also points to people becoming Christians being regarded by others as 'foolish'. After reinforcing these points with some Old Testament quotations, Paul also reminds his readers about not putting their faith in human leadership (v. 21).

Given the state of the world at the moment, given the examples before us of leadership in all continents, and given the way that the media puts a variety of spins on the same item of news, I hope that anyone reading this will, like Paul, counsel caution in sourcing wisdom in the secular world.

What Paul is trying to do is to guide the Corinthian church to the truth. He is helping them to see that all the Christian leaders that have tried to help them in the past are worth listening to. There is no need to set one Christian leader against another, for all are under the authority – and ultimate wisdom – of Jesus Christ. All Christians are bound together in an extraordinary Christian heritage, the head of which is Jesus. Paul is urging these early Christians not to boast that a particular wisdom comes from one Christian leader or another, because wisdom itself is from God alone.

The greatest leaders down through the ages are the ones who have acknowledged that they are merely messengers of a higher authority – and ultimate wisdom. Jesus is both the embodiment and supreme example of wisdom for Christians.

To Ponder:

• To whom do you go for wisdom? When you really need guidance for something, who do you turn to? Give thanks for such a wise friend. Give thanks for the well-spring of their wisdom.
• William Wordsworth wrote: “Wisdom is oftimes nearer when we stoop than when we soar.” Is this true for you?