Day 27: What do you trust? - 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

1 When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 New Living Translation

These verses show that when Paul came to Corinth he made a conscious decision about what and how he would speak to them. What was he going to tell them about? (vs 2) How was he going speak? (vs 1 and 4). And, most important, why was he going to do it that way? (vs 5).

It seems it was about the matter of trust. In whom and on what did Paul want them to put their confidence? Human wisdom, or the power of God? Paul knew that Greeks in his day were very into intellectual discussions and debates. For example, Luke tells us in Acts 17:21 that: “All the people of Athens, and the foreigners who lived, there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.” (And that was long before Google!) Sophisticated philosophy was important to them. Does this mean that Paul was anti-intellectualism - and are Christians anti education and science?

Not at all. Paul himself was a well educated man and, over the centuries, Christians have often been the best educated people in communities. Many famous scientists have believed on Jesus and when missionaries go to remote places the first thing they often do is to start schools. But Paul knew that the ‘wisdom of man’ is something that changes. New ideas and fads constantly replace old ones. But the Bible teaches us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8).

I think Paul also knew that knowledge often puffs people up with their own self importance, and to try and reason with them usually ends in going round in circles. He knew that even if he won an argument, it would not necessarily change their souls. Only God can do that! And the way God brings life to our soul is by the power of His Spirit through the message of Jesus who was crucified for our sins. That is where we must place our trust for the eternal life that Paul was speaking about.

Christians should use whatever opportunities they have to get a good education and to learn skills. That will make us productive and useful in the world. But we must never lose sight of the message which gave us such hope, and which can bring life to all who believe. So don’t be afraid (vs 3) to tell this message to someone you meet who may be far more intellectual than you are. It’s a message that is backed by the power of God.