NO GLORY FOR YOU
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 NKJV
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord."
Corinth was the major city in Greece during Paul's day. He founded a church there, and it grew to thousands of people. The city was an important business hub and full of pagan practices. Some have compared it to an ancient Las Vegas. Unlike the book of Philippians, the letter to the Corinthians is filled with correction. We find corrections in our verses for today.
Paul is having to address the Corinthian's penchant for dividing into camps based on personalities. And in our verses for today he is reminding them that the Christian life is not about what we are from a fleshly standpoint. He reminds them that not many wise, or mighty, or noble according to the flesh are a part of their church. The invitation to receive Christ is available for everyone, but it takes humility to receive Christ as Savior. God does not look for the strongest and the smartest to reveal His power and wisdom. Instead, God will show Himself strong in the people who are often overlooked. God can use the mighty and the smart, but no flesh can glory in His presence. No one can stand before God proud of their strength and wisdom. In the world, people idolize the beautiful and the strong, but it doesn't work that way in God's Kingdom.
The Corinthians were a fleshy group, and Paul is steering them away from this worldly limited thinking. He reminds them that because of God, they are in Christ Jesus. This is a consistent theme that Paul proclaimed to the churches - who they were because of their union with Christ. Because of being in Christ, the wisdom of God was theirs. Because of being in Christ, the believers in Corinth were now made righteous, right, in God's sight. Because of Christ, the one who believes in Him was set apart for God and redeemed or purchased out of the bondage of darkness. The beauty of this new life for the Corinthians was found in their spiritual union with Christ, not in the attributes of their flesh.
So, Paul concludes with showing these believers what to glory in, and what to be happy about. The glory of the believer is in the Lord.
APPLICATION
What applied to the church in Corinth applies to the church today. Spiritual truths do not fade out or get replaced by current culture. As believers today, we don't puff out our chests at what we are naturally. God is not impressed. People may be, but the acclaim from people fades quickly. In today's cancel culture, everyone is one misstep away from being rejected.
What we can rejoice in, give thanks in, and point to in our lives is what we are because of relationship with the Lord. We can rejoice that now we have access to God's wisdom. We have been made right with Him and set apart for His glory. We are redeemed from the darkness of this world, and from Satan and his works.
So don't get caught up in what you were in days gone by or what people think about all your gifts and talents. Give God praise that most importantly, you are in Christ and you can glory in Him.
PRAYER
Thank You, Father, that because of You, I am in Christ, and I am blessed beyond anything I could do on my own. I rejoice; I glory in the Lord!