Have you ever been around a person who thinks that they are smarter than they are? Have you ever been around a person who thinks or, worse yet, knows that they are the smartest person in the room? Can you relate to the problems and issues that erupt when someone thinks that they are smarter than they really are?
In a section of letter that was written within 25 years of Jesus death, we see a timeless truth that reveals for us the reality that this problem is a problem that was just as prevalent 2,000 years ago as it is today. And that timeless truth is that as Christians, we act unchristian when we believe that we are smarter than we are. We see this in 1 Corinthians 3:18-23:
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS"; and again, "THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS." So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.
In these verses we see the apostle Paul, who wrote this letter, reveal one way that Christians act unchristian by believing we are smarter than we are. That way is that Christians act unchristian when we believe that we are as smart as God. Paul begins by commanding the members of the church at Corinth to not deceive themselves. Paul reveals that the members of the church at Corinth were being deceived into accepting the false idea that they possessed wisdom and understanding equal to God. The members of the church of Corinth had deceived themselves into thinking that they were as smart as God.
Instead of being deceived, Paul commands those who think that they are as smart as God to change their opinion of themselves so as to reflect reality. Paul explains that the reason that the church at Corinth needed to change their opinion when it comes to their view of how smart they are as compared to God’s divine wisdom is because the wisdom and understanding that is possessed by the world is mere foolishness when compared with the wisdom that flows from God. Paul quotes Job 5:13 and Psalm 93:11 to show that human wisdom is not what it appears to be and is instead empty, worthless and thus foolish when compared with God’s divine wisdom.
And because of the reality that God’s wisdom is far superior to human wisdom, Paul commands the members of the church at Corinth to let no one boast in men. The Apostle was calling the church at Corinth to not take pride in the personality or the seeming wisdom of a man. Instead, he was calling them to change their exalted opinion of their wisdom in order to reflect their proper relationship with God.
Paul responds to the situation at the church by explaining that the opposite is true through their relationship with Christ. Paul is explaining that as followers of Jesus, “you do not belong to another man; instead they belong to you, as your servants, because you all belong to Christ, and Christ is God’s”. And today, just as it was 2000 years ago, the reality is that God is the ultimate reality and is the owner of all things. Paul’s point is that our position and possessions in the world is ultimately under the Leadership and Lordship of God through Jesus Christ. Everything that we have in terms of wisdom, position, and possessions ultimately belongs to God through Jesus Christ.
As followers of Jesus, we are not to take pride in human position or possessions; instead we are to take pride in being Christ’s possession. Christians who act unchristian however, would rather take pride in their own wisdom, position, and possessions, which reveals the reality that they have accepted and embraced false ideas about how smart they really are.
So, are you a Christian who acts unchristian by believing that you are smarter than you really are? Do you ever give the impression that you know as much as God?
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