No one can take credit before God or boast in his presence on the ground of human wisdom, status, strength, merit, power, rank, or achievement. God deliberately passes by the many who are wise, mighty, and noble in the eyes of the world, and chooses what is counted foolish, weak, base, low, despised, and as nothing, to shame the wise and mighty and bring to nothing what merely exists by human standing. All standing before God comes only from God through union with Christ, who is made to believers wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so all boasting must be in the Lord alone and all glorying only in the cross. Usefulness and success in God's work do not come chiefly from wealth, education, natural ability, eloquence, or learning, but from dependence on God, faith, devotion, and the power of the Holy Spirit, for one may plant and another water, but God alone gives the increase. Human learning, rank, numbers, influence, and approval do not decide whether a message is true, and the poverty and lowliness of its messengers do not disprove it, while pride and self-reliance shut the heart against Christ and all good in man for serving acceptably comes by mercy through the Son.
God Chooses the Lowly
No one can claim credit or boast before God on the ground of human wisdom, status, strength, merit, power, rank, or achievement. Human wisdom, strength, status, and self-worth cannot make anyone worthy in His presence or secure salvation. God deliberately chooses people and means regarded as weak, foolish, low, base, and insignificant so that human beings are left with no ground for self-exaltation before Him. The proper ground for glory is knowing the Lord, so boasting belongs to the Lord alone and not to human wisdom, strength, or ability.
God does not call many who are wise after the flesh, mighty, or noble, but chooses what the world regards as foolish to confound the wise, what is weak to confound the mighty, and base and despised things and things which are not to bring to nothing the things that are. Human wisdom, might, and nobility therefore give no standing before God, and very few of the wise, mighty, and noble after the flesh are called. In Athens few received the gospel because pride of intellect and worldly wisdom counted it foolishness, while grand truths that proud and self-exalted men refused to examine are clearly understood and enjoyed by humble learners like babes. For this reason human ideas of education are not to be exalted as supreme, educators must not extol men, turn minds from God to man and disloyal human authors, or place men where God should be, but must keep greater heights before them, call them to hunger and thirst after righteousness, to receive the Holy Spirit, and to preach Christ crucified as the power of God and the wisdom of God.
God destroys the wisdom of the wise and the understanding of the prudent and makes foolish the wisdom of this world, placing no value on the wisdom of the world. The world by wisdom did not know God, and the preaching of Christ crucified remains foolishness to those who perish but the power and wisdom of God to those who are called. The foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men. Knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent, which is eternal life, is the highest of all education, of more value than gold and silver and precious stones and more to be desired than worldly honor and the empty applause of mortals.
Christ Alone Gives Standing
No human wisdom, status, strength, or merit can make anyone worthy in God's presence, and no person can claim credit before Him. Of God believers are in Christ Jesus, who is made to them wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. All standing, hope, and worth come from God through Christ, not from human status or ability. God deliberately chooses what the world regards as foolish, weak, base, low, despised, and things which are not, so that human wisdom and power cannot be the basis for glory. The proper ground for glory is knowing the Lord.
Therefore anyone who boasts must boast in the Lord alone, and all glory belongs to the Lord. He who glories must glory only in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Pride and self-reliance shut the heart against Christ, while the preaching of the cross reveals the need for Him. Salvation and the standing believers have in Christ come entirely from God.
The cross of Calvary gives the proper level to the human mind. Looking unto Jesus as the Author and Finisher of faith lays all desire for self-glorification in the dust. Seeing aright brings a spirit of self-abasement, lowliness, humbleness of mind, and true humility, with no self-exaltation. Contemplating the cross shows the wonderful provision brought to every believer. Seeing God in Christ and Christ in God levels human exaltation and pride.
The Creator of all worlds humbled Himself to human nature in meekness and lowliness, clothing divinity with humanity. Though He was the Majesty of heaven and rich in heaven's treasure, He became poor so that through His poverty believers are made rich. High-mindedness, self-trust, self-sufficiency, and self-complacency dishonor the Maker. Whoever cherishes them will surely be humbled.
Christ crucified is foolishness to those who perish but the power of God and the wisdom of God to those who are called. The world by wisdom did not know God, for God destroys the wisdom of the wise, makes foolish the wisdom of this world, and brings to nothing the understanding of the prudent. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe, while Christ crucified remains a stumbling block to Jews requiring a sign and foolishness to Greeks seeking wisdom. Those who receive Christ receive power to become sons of God and to be perfect in their human sphere as God is perfect in His sphere, content with nothing less than the best and highest character formed after the divine similitude. In light of the cross, worldly wisdom gives way to Christ crucified as the source of wisdom and strength. Human wisdom, skill, enticing words of man's wisdom, and self-promotion must be laid aside in the work of preaching Christ crucified. Christ is to be lifted up while self is kept out of sight. Speech and preaching are to be in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that faith stands in the power of God and not in the wisdom of men. Those who educate God's people must not exalt learned men, turn minds from God to man, or place disloyal men where God should be, but must keep greater heights before them and honor God. All engaged in the branches of God's work are to study 1 Corinthians 1 and 2 to learn this dependence.
Rank Cannot Prove Truth
Whether a message is true is not established by human learning, rank, numbers, influence, power, or the approval of learned or religious leaders, and it is not disproved by the fewness, poverty, and low status of those who present it. God calls few who are wise, powerful, or socially honored, but chooses what the world regards as foolish, weak, base, low, despised, and things which are not, to confound the wise and mighty and to bring to nothing the things that are, so that no flesh can glory in His presence. He entrusts truth to humble people who hear and obey Him and are willing to speak unwelcome truths, and their humility and obedience make them fit to be taught by Him and to explain Scripture, with the honor of knowing His truth outweighing earthly honor and human greatness. Truth may therefore be presented by preachers who are few, poor, and regarded as unlearned while a powerful and respected church opposes it, and worldly superiority is no decisive argument against it. It is not disproved because few accept it or because the world's great men reject it, and no one should seek earthly approval at the expense of eternal riches.
Great men, ministers, doctors, and the learned reject the truth of the Lord's Sabbath and regard its conscientious observers as wild and erratic, because popularity, worldly inducements, and the cross stand in the way and their minds are darkened, yet their rejection does not disprove the truth. Christ left heavenly glory to lift fallen humanity yet chose to teach poor people who were willing to receive Him, while some wealthy people believed but would not acknowledge Him openly. The same pattern applies to the message for this time: people regarded as great may reject it because of the cross, while God sends messages of mercy so that people may receive eternal life. Instead of human greatness, those who are called are of God in Christ Jesus, who is made unto them wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
Christ chose humble, unlearned fishermen rather than Jewish teachers known for learning and eloquence, the wealthy, honored, and powerful, or Roman rulers known for power, because those invested in their own standing, wisdom, and self-righteousness felt no need of a Redeemer and would not receive His teaching in humble obedience. Those who followed Him did so without worldly honor, riches, or glory as inducements, so that the work of salvation would not be made an occasion for human pride or worldly glory. Its success was thus credited to God rather than to human wisdom or strength, and its proclamation depends on the power of the Holy Spirit. The humble fishermen were willing to follow Him and be shaped into co-workers, and He taught them for their future work and qualified them through His teaching to carry out a world-changing mission, so their wisdom, power, character, teaching, and influence pointed to His power rather than to human status or ability. This does not condemn education, for the highest culture when guided by love and reverence for God is approved. Their fitness came through learning from Him: Judas failed to let the lessons shape and discipline his heart, while John practiced them and stood by their principles.
God introduced the gospel through Jesus, born to humble parents, brought up in obscurity at Nazareth, and beginning His work in poverty and without worldly rank or splendor, showing that His way of proclaiming the gospel differs from reliance on worldly standing and splendor. He was born of humble parents in a sin-cursed, wicked world, brought up in obscurity at Nazareth, a small town of Galilee, and began His work in poverty and without worldly rank, and by this God at the beginning of the gospel taught His church to rely not on rank and splendor but on the power of faith and obedience. The same rule forbids competing with worldly institutions in size and splendor when establishing institutions, since victory comes not by erecting massive buildings and display but by cherishing a Christlike spirit of meekness and lowliness. His people are to count the favor of God above gold and silver and the power of His Spirit of inestimable value, choosing the cross and disappointed hopes over living with princes and forfeiting heaven.
Power Through Weak Instruments
Usefulness and success in God's work come not chiefly from wealth, education, natural power, eloquence, or theological learning, but from dependence on God, faith, devotion, grace, and the power of the Holy Spirit. God saves His own people in His own way, by means and instruments chosen so that the glory is returned to Him and praise belongs to Him alone, and no human being is to be given the credit for success. It is the abundant grace of Christ that makes the feeble among His disciples strong and the strong mighty, and from Him are received the endowments that enable acceptable service, while those fully consecrated to Him return to God all the glory and make Him their entire dependence. Humble people are used to accomplish great work so that the glory belongs not to human agents but to God who works through them, and humble unlearned men were chosen rather than Jewish teachers known for learning and eloquence or Roman rulers known for power, so that the gospel's success would be credited to God and not to human wisdom or strength, with its proclamation depending on the power of the Holy Spirit.
Ministers are only servants by whom belief comes, as the Lord gives to every man. One plants and another waters with differing work and presentation, one perhaps emphasizing another phase of truth or presenting the Word in a different way, but God alone gives the increase, so neither he that plants nor he that waters is anything. He that plants and he that waters are one in object, each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor, and none is to be condemned for difference nor need fear that brethren disregard his exposition. The weakness of the church comes from envy and strife when members walk as men and divide over human leaders, saying I am of Paul and I am of Apollos, withdrawing from some for imaginary reasons and binding up with others. Cherishing prejudice, envy, jealousy, evil surmising and discord separates brethren from each other and from God and greatly hinders the manifestation of the Spirit of God, which is sent as Comforter and Strengthener when His people obey to be all of one mind, loving as brethren, pitiful and courteous.
The unlearned disciples spoke with wisdom and power because they had been with Jesus and learned from Him, and their character and teaching reflected Christ. Poor fishermen were chosen rather than the earth's talented and great men to be His companions and pupils, and taught by Him for their future work, with fitness coming through learning from Him. Judas failed to let the lessons shape and discipline his heart, while John practiced them and stood by their principles after Christ's death. God sets aside people who rely on themselves and think everything depends on them, and can use those of lesser ability who depend on Him and remain faithful and upright. He can use people others consider rough, unpromising, illiterate, obscure, frail, and of lesser ability, because He judges the heart rather than outward appearance, and His Spirit can stir their faculties into vigorous action so that people who seem unimpressive can become precious workers.
The work of saving souls is accomplished by God's Spirit, not by human might, power, learning, or eloquence, and God uses even illiterate and obscure people as instruments, so the success of the work gives no ground for human pride. Those who refuse self-denial and the work entrusted to them will be passed by, while God's purposes are still carried out through others. Christ is the chief Worker officiating through the delegated servant, and the servant must not be judged merely as a man by whether his manners and habits meet a human pattern. A worker may have weak mental capacities, limited knowledge, uneloquent speech, imperfect judgment, and need for counselors, yet come close to hearts and break down resistance to truth, and then the evidence is more apparent that God works. In many cases God can work with His wisdom through such an agent so the power is seen to be of God, more than through one possessing natural and acquired abilities who has confidence in himself, in his judgment, in his knowledge, and in his manner of address. This was illustrated when a poor unlearned man's repeated words about Christ's coming brought a learned elder to repentance, showing that God's power, not human ability, is the source of spiritual change.
The early believers were few in number, mostly poor, humble, and without many resources, and their growth and success came from God, not human power. Those who believe the mighty truth are a poor despised company, yet honored by God with the privilege of being among the children of God, with human lowliness excluding human boasting so that might and glory belong to God alone while His people receive honor from Him. His people include many from ordinary walks of life, who trust in Jesus and serve others according to the light and ability they have, even if they lack worldly wisdom or theological learning. Christ's success among the poor shows that the gospel is not a human message made popular by the rich and powerful, and it calls everyone who accepts it to do Christ's work by helping people who are destitute, despised, forsaken, and afflicted. Their standing and hope come from God through Christ, who is their wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, and all glory and boasting belong in the Lord.
God is not dependent on learned self-important people or human talent or any human instrumentality, and sets aside those who think everything depends on them and their say-so. He brings effectual help to His cause through unexpected channels and unthought-of ways, through the weakest of instruments, so that He is seen and acknowledged, magnifying His name in His own time and revealing the nothingness of men. Those who lack formal education can become effective workers when they consecrate themselves to God, learn from Christ through Scripture, and receive the Holy Spirit's renewing power, for knowledge without learning in Christ's school cannot lead people to Him. Even humble imperfect successful service brings glory wholly to God, and His people must die to self and cherish humble faith, making God rather than human ability their strength. He is the unchanging source of strength yesterday, today, and forever, and the hand that redeemed will still work, so those engaged in His sacred work must not trust in their own firmness as if their mountain can never be moved, but must become partakers of the pleasantness and sweetness of God's character, with hearts flowing forth in grateful offerings to heaven.
In the closing work God enlists helpers from the common people rather than depending on the educated and prominent, taking true believers from humble ordinary work to proclaim the truth for this time, so the glory belongs to Him, not to their status or achievements. Both youth and those older in years are called from the field, from the vineyard, and from the workshop, and sent forth by the Master to give His message. Many of these have had little opportunity for education, but Christ sees in them qualifications that will enable them to fulfil His purpose. If they put their hearts into the work and continue to be learners, He will fit them to labor for Him. With such preparation as they can gain, thousands upon thousands of the youth and those older in years should be giving themselves to the work, and many hearts are already responding to the call with numbers to increase.
Humble Dependence in Life
Pride in wisdom, goodness, status, possessions, or praise shuts the heart against Christ and leaves it unwilling to receive Him, while self-reliance and self-importance keep a person from sympathy and from being taught. The preaching of the cross exposes human self-sufficiency and reveals the need for Christ, calling people to distrust themselves, die to self, and make God rather than human ability their strength. All pomposity and all masterly effort to gain the supremacy is unbecoming, because believers are just God's little children. The plain words that no flesh should glory in His presence leave no room for misunderstanding, and they rebuke self-exaltation, improper affection, and spiritualistic sentimentalism by calling all to humble, obedient childhood before God.
People have no good in themselves that can make them worthy of God's blessings or give them grounds for taking the glory to themselves. Reason, affection, speech, and spiritual discernment all come through the Son's mercy, and human strength and ability to serve acceptably come from Christ's abundant grace which makes the feeble strong and the strong mighty. Any signal blessing comes from God's mercy and loving-kindness rather than from human goodness or righteousness, so praise belongs to God alone. Those fully consecrated to Him depend entirely on Him, return to God all the glory, and make Him their entire dependence.
The highest of all education and the highest culture is the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He sent, which is eternal life. That knowledge is of more value than gold and silver and precious stones, and more to be desired than worldly honor and the empty applause of mortals. Human learning must not replace dependence on God but must lead to holiness and service rather than to worldly distinction, for true wisdom and worth come from God through Christ who is made wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Rightly studying the Bible shows that human intellect is not omnipotent and that human strength without God's help is weakness and ignorance, producing wholesome humility, and the highest culture when guided by love and reverence for God is approved. Human ideas of education are not to be exalted as supreme, and the inclination of educators to extol men is foolishness.
Those who educate God's people must not turn minds from God to man, to disloyal human authors and worldly wisdom, might, and nobility, nor place men where God should be. They must keep greater heights before them, call them to hunger and thirst after righteousness and to receive the Holy Spirit, and honor God. Speech and preaching are to lay aside enticing words of man's wisdom and be in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, preaching Christ crucified as the power of God and the wisdom of God, so that faith stands in the power of God and not in the wisdom of men.
God's church must walk in humility before God because it has nothing to boast about. This means bewailing dullness of intellectual faculties and lack of appreciation for privileges and opportunities, confessing harshness and unchristlike thrusts that grieve the Lord Jesus Christ, and needing to become complete in Him. The weakness of the church comes when members walk as men and divide over human leaders, saying I am of Paul and I am of Apollos, withdrawing from some for imaginary reasons and binding up with others. Ministers are only servants by whom belief comes as the Lord gives to every man, one planting and another watering with differing work and presentation, but God alone gives the increase, so neither is anything and each receives reward according to his own labor and none is to be condemned for difference. Cherishing prejudice, envy, jealousy, evil surmising, strife, and discord separates brethren from each other and from God and greatly hinders the manifestation of the Spirit, who is sent as Comforter and Strengthener when His people obey to be all of one mind, loving as brethren, pitiful and courteous.
Those acting a part in leading out a people and preparing them for translation must get back into right lines of work by standing as sentinels for God, laboring unitedly, being willing servants of all, and following in the footsteps of Jesus the great Exemplar. In troublous times this means not taking eyes off Christ as Leader, denying self and taking up the cross to follow Him, walking as He gave example, bearing much fruit to glorify the Father, and drawing minds out of the darkness of error to Christ. Human rank, wealth, learning, and power do not give Christian influence or grounds for boasting before God. Influence comes from a willing mind and a heart devoted to Christ, for God gives grace for every duty, and even humble service can reveal Christian character and glorify Him. Victory comes not by numbers but by entire surrender to Jesus, through whom God accomplishes a great work through those who may not seem most talented when they rely wholly on Him and labor in humility without self-importance, enabling them to do what more talented people fail to do. The poor and those with limited abilities may enter the kingdom when they live up to the light they have and make faithful use of what little is within their reach, while people with greater abilities, opportunities, and knowledge may be left out if they do not live faithfully.
God gives each man work according to his ability for advancing the Redeemer's kingdom. Yet under temptation a man can pervert his talent, time, intellect, money, and strength to the enemy's forces while counting the advocates of truth inferior to those advancing error, and this comes from lack of spiritual eyesight and need of the heavenly anointing, for the grace of God in the heart changes his estimate of everything relating to God's cause. As God's husbandry and God's building founded on Jesus Christ, and as the temple of God indwelt by His Spirit, believers must place themselves in right relation to God as His property and build for time and eternity. They must do this by obeying the laws of health and caring for His wonderful building and husbandry, in no wise neglecting or defiling it.
No one can take credit before God or boast in his presence on the ground of human wisdom, status, strength, merit, power, rank, or achievement. God deliberately passes by the many who are wise, mighty, and noble in the eyes of the world, and chooses what is counted foolish, weak, base, low, despised, and as nothing, to shame the wise and mighty and bring to nothing what merely exists by human standing. All standing before God comes only from God through union with Christ, who is made to believers wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so all boasting must be in the Lord alone and all glorying only in the cross. Usefulness and success in God's work do not come chiefly from wealth, education, natural ability, eloquence, or learning, but from dependence on God, faith, devotion, and the power of the Holy Spirit, for one may plant and another water, but God alone gives the increase. Human learning, rank, numbers, influence, and approval do not decide whether a message is true, and the poverty and lowliness of its messengers do not disprove it, while pride and self-reliance shut the heart against Christ and all good in man for serving acceptably comes by mercy through the Son.
God Chooses the Lowly
No one can claim credit or boast before God on the ground of human wisdom, status, strength, merit, power, rank, or achievement. Human wisdom, strength, status, and self-worth cannot make anyone worthy in His presence or secure salvation. God deliberately chooses people and means regarded as weak, foolish, low, base, and insignificant so that human beings are left with no ground for self-exaltation before Him. The proper ground for glory is knowing the Lord, so boasting belongs to the Lord alone and not to human wisdom, strength, or ability.
God does not call many who are wise after the flesh, mighty, or noble, but chooses what the world regards as foolish to confound the wise, what is weak to confound the mighty, and base and despised things and things which are not to bring to nothing the things that are. Human wisdom, might, and nobility therefore give no standing before God, and very few of the wise, mighty, and noble after the flesh are called. In Athens few received the gospel because pride of intellect and worldly wisdom counted it foolishness, while grand truths that proud and self-exalted men refused to examine are clearly understood and enjoyed by humble learners like babes. For this reason human ideas of education are not to be exalted as supreme, educators must not extol men, turn minds from God to man and disloyal human authors, or place men where God should be, but must keep greater heights before them, call them to hunger and thirst after righteousness, to receive the Holy Spirit, and to preach Christ crucified as the power of God and the wisdom of God.
God destroys the wisdom of the wise and the understanding of the prudent and makes foolish the wisdom of this world, placing no value on the wisdom of the world. The world by wisdom did not know God, and the preaching of Christ crucified remains foolishness to those who perish but the power and wisdom of God to those who are called. The foolishness of God is wiser than men and the weakness of God is stronger than men. Knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent, which is eternal life, is the highest of all education, of more value than gold and silver and precious stones and more to be desired than worldly honor and the empty applause of mortals.
Christ Alone Gives Standing
No human wisdom, status, strength, or merit can make anyone worthy in God's presence, and no person can claim credit before Him. Of God believers are in Christ Jesus, who is made to them wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. All standing, hope, and worth come from God through Christ, not from human status or ability. God deliberately chooses what the world regards as foolish, weak, base, low, despised, and things which are not, so that human wisdom and power cannot be the basis for glory. The proper ground for glory is knowing the Lord.
Therefore anyone who boasts must boast in the Lord alone, and all glory belongs to the Lord. He who glories must glory only in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Pride and self-reliance shut the heart against Christ, while the preaching of the cross reveals the need for Him. Salvation and the standing believers have in Christ come entirely from God.
The cross of Calvary gives the proper level to the human mind. Looking unto Jesus as the Author and Finisher of faith lays all desire for self-glorification in the dust. Seeing aright brings a spirit of self-abasement, lowliness, humbleness of mind, and true humility, with no self-exaltation. Contemplating the cross shows the wonderful provision brought to every believer. Seeing God in Christ and Christ in God levels human exaltation and pride.
The Creator of all worlds humbled Himself to human nature in meekness and lowliness, clothing divinity with humanity. Though He was the Majesty of heaven and rich in heaven's treasure, He became poor so that through His poverty believers are made rich. High-mindedness, self-trust, self-sufficiency, and self-complacency dishonor the Maker. Whoever cherishes them will surely be humbled.
Christ crucified is foolishness to those who perish but the power of God and the wisdom of God to those who are called. The world by wisdom did not know God, for God destroys the wisdom of the wise, makes foolish the wisdom of this world, and brings to nothing the understanding of the prudent. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe, while Christ crucified remains a stumbling block to Jews requiring a sign and foolishness to Greeks seeking wisdom. Those who receive Christ receive power to become sons of God and to be perfect in their human sphere as God is perfect in His sphere, content with nothing less than the best and highest character formed after the divine similitude. In light of the cross, worldly wisdom gives way to Christ crucified as the source of wisdom and strength.
Human wisdom, skill, enticing words of man's wisdom, and self-promotion must be laid aside in the work of preaching Christ crucified. Christ is to be lifted up while self is kept out of sight. Speech and preaching are to be in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that faith stands in the power of God and not in the wisdom of men. Those who educate God's people must not exalt learned men, turn minds from God to man, or place disloyal men where God should be, but must keep greater heights before them and honor God. All engaged in the branches of God's work are to study 1 Corinthians 1 and 2 to learn this dependence.
Rank Cannot Prove Truth
Whether a message is true is not established by human learning, rank, numbers, influence, power, or the approval of learned or religious leaders, and it is not disproved by the fewness, poverty, and low status of those who present it. God calls few who are wise, powerful, or socially honored, but chooses what the world regards as foolish, weak, base, low, despised, and things which are not, to confound the wise and mighty and to bring to nothing the things that are, so that no flesh can glory in His presence. He entrusts truth to humble people who hear and obey Him and are willing to speak unwelcome truths, and their humility and obedience make them fit to be taught by Him and to explain Scripture, with the honor of knowing His truth outweighing earthly honor and human greatness. Truth may therefore be presented by preachers who are few, poor, and regarded as unlearned while a powerful and respected church opposes it, and worldly superiority is no decisive argument against it. It is not disproved because few accept it or because the world's great men reject it, and no one should seek earthly approval at the expense of eternal riches.
Great men, ministers, doctors, and the learned reject the truth of the Lord's Sabbath and regard its conscientious observers as wild and erratic, because popularity, worldly inducements, and the cross stand in the way and their minds are darkened, yet their rejection does not disprove the truth. Christ left heavenly glory to lift fallen humanity yet chose to teach poor people who were willing to receive Him, while some wealthy people believed but would not acknowledge Him openly. The same pattern applies to the message for this time: people regarded as great may reject it because of the cross, while God sends messages of mercy so that people may receive eternal life. Instead of human greatness, those who are called are of God in Christ Jesus, who is made unto them wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
Christ chose humble, unlearned fishermen rather than Jewish teachers known for learning and eloquence, the wealthy, honored, and powerful, or Roman rulers known for power, because those invested in their own standing, wisdom, and self-righteousness felt no need of a Redeemer and would not receive His teaching in humble obedience. Those who followed Him did so without worldly honor, riches, or glory as inducements, so that the work of salvation would not be made an occasion for human pride or worldly glory. Its success was thus credited to God rather than to human wisdom or strength, and its proclamation depends on the power of the Holy Spirit. The humble fishermen were willing to follow Him and be shaped into co-workers, and He taught them for their future work and qualified them through His teaching to carry out a world-changing mission, so their wisdom, power, character, teaching, and influence pointed to His power rather than to human status or ability. This does not condemn education, for the highest culture when guided by love and reverence for God is approved. Their fitness came through learning from Him: Judas failed to let the lessons shape and discipline his heart, while John practiced them and stood by their principles.
God introduced the gospel through Jesus, born to humble parents, brought up in obscurity at Nazareth, and beginning His work in poverty and without worldly rank or splendor, showing that His way of proclaiming the gospel differs from reliance on worldly standing and splendor. He was born of humble parents in a sin-cursed, wicked world, brought up in obscurity at Nazareth, a small town of Galilee, and began His work in poverty and without worldly rank, and by this God at the beginning of the gospel taught His church to rely not on rank and splendor but on the power of faith and obedience. The same rule forbids competing with worldly institutions in size and splendor when establishing institutions, since victory comes not by erecting massive buildings and display but by cherishing a Christlike spirit of meekness and lowliness. His people are to count the favor of God above gold and silver and the power of His Spirit of inestimable value, choosing the cross and disappointed hopes over living with princes and forfeiting heaven.
Power Through Weak Instruments
Usefulness and success in God's work come not chiefly from wealth, education, natural power, eloquence, or theological learning, but from dependence on God, faith, devotion, grace, and the power of the Holy Spirit. God saves His own people in His own way, by means and instruments chosen so that the glory is returned to Him and praise belongs to Him alone, and no human being is to be given the credit for success. It is the abundant grace of Christ that makes the feeble among His disciples strong and the strong mighty, and from Him are received the endowments that enable acceptable service, while those fully consecrated to Him return to God all the glory and make Him their entire dependence. Humble people are used to accomplish great work so that the glory belongs not to human agents but to God who works through them, and humble unlearned men were chosen rather than Jewish teachers known for learning and eloquence or Roman rulers known for power, so that the gospel's success would be credited to God and not to human wisdom or strength, with its proclamation depending on the power of the Holy Spirit.
Ministers are only servants by whom belief comes, as the Lord gives to every man. One plants and another waters with differing work and presentation, one perhaps emphasizing another phase of truth or presenting the Word in a different way, but God alone gives the increase, so neither he that plants nor he that waters is anything. He that plants and he that waters are one in object, each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor, and none is to be condemned for difference nor need fear that brethren disregard his exposition. The weakness of the church comes from envy and strife when members walk as men and divide over human leaders, saying I am of Paul and I am of Apollos, withdrawing from some for imaginary reasons and binding up with others. Cherishing prejudice, envy, jealousy, evil surmising and discord separates brethren from each other and from God and greatly hinders the manifestation of the Spirit of God, which is sent as Comforter and Strengthener when His people obey to be all of one mind, loving as brethren, pitiful and courteous.
The unlearned disciples spoke with wisdom and power because they had been with Jesus and learned from Him, and their character and teaching reflected Christ. Poor fishermen were chosen rather than the earth's talented and great men to be His companions and pupils, and taught by Him for their future work, with fitness coming through learning from Him. Judas failed to let the lessons shape and discipline his heart, while John practiced them and stood by their principles after Christ's death. God sets aside people who rely on themselves and think everything depends on them, and can use those of lesser ability who depend on Him and remain faithful and upright. He can use people others consider rough, unpromising, illiterate, obscure, frail, and of lesser ability, because He judges the heart rather than outward appearance, and His Spirit can stir their faculties into vigorous action so that people who seem unimpressive can become precious workers.
The work of saving souls is accomplished by God's Spirit, not by human might, power, learning, or eloquence, and God uses even illiterate and obscure people as instruments, so the success of the work gives no ground for human pride. Those who refuse self-denial and the work entrusted to them will be passed by, while God's purposes are still carried out through others. Christ is the chief Worker officiating through the delegated servant, and the servant must not be judged merely as a man by whether his manners and habits meet a human pattern. A worker may have weak mental capacities, limited knowledge, uneloquent speech, imperfect judgment, and need for counselors, yet come close to hearts and break down resistance to truth, and then the evidence is more apparent that God works. In many cases God can work with His wisdom through such an agent so the power is seen to be of God, more than through one possessing natural and acquired abilities who has confidence in himself, in his judgment, in his knowledge, and in his manner of address. This was illustrated when a poor unlearned man's repeated words about Christ's coming brought a learned elder to repentance, showing that God's power, not human ability, is the source of spiritual change.
The early believers were few in number, mostly poor, humble, and without many resources, and their growth and success came from God, not human power. Those who believe the mighty truth are a poor despised company, yet honored by God with the privilege of being among the children of God, with human lowliness excluding human boasting so that might and glory belong to God alone while His people receive honor from Him. His people include many from ordinary walks of life, who trust in Jesus and serve others according to the light and ability they have, even if they lack worldly wisdom or theological learning. Christ's success among the poor shows that the gospel is not a human message made popular by the rich and powerful, and it calls everyone who accepts it to do Christ's work by helping people who are destitute, despised, forsaken, and afflicted. Their standing and hope come from God through Christ, who is their wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, and all glory and boasting belong in the Lord.
God is not dependent on learned self-important people or human talent or any human instrumentality, and sets aside those who think everything depends on them and their say-so. He brings effectual help to His cause through unexpected channels and unthought-of ways, through the weakest of instruments, so that He is seen and acknowledged, magnifying His name in His own time and revealing the nothingness of men. Those who lack formal education can become effective workers when they consecrate themselves to God, learn from Christ through Scripture, and receive the Holy Spirit's renewing power, for knowledge without learning in Christ's school cannot lead people to Him. Even humble imperfect successful service brings glory wholly to God, and His people must die to self and cherish humble faith, making God rather than human ability their strength. He is the unchanging source of strength yesterday, today, and forever, and the hand that redeemed will still work, so those engaged in His sacred work must not trust in their own firmness as if their mountain can never be moved, but must become partakers of the pleasantness and sweetness of God's character, with hearts flowing forth in grateful offerings to heaven.
In the closing work God enlists helpers from the common people rather than depending on the educated and prominent, taking true believers from humble ordinary work to proclaim the truth for this time, so the glory belongs to Him, not to their status or achievements. Both youth and those older in years are called from the field, from the vineyard, and from the workshop, and sent forth by the Master to give His message. Many of these have had little opportunity for education, but Christ sees in them qualifications that will enable them to fulfil His purpose. If they put their hearts into the work and continue to be learners, He will fit them to labor for Him. With such preparation as they can gain, thousands upon thousands of the youth and those older in years should be giving themselves to the work, and many hearts are already responding to the call with numbers to increase.
Humble Dependence in Life
Pride in wisdom, goodness, status, possessions, or praise shuts the heart against Christ and leaves it unwilling to receive Him, while self-reliance and self-importance keep a person from sympathy and from being taught. The preaching of the cross exposes human self-sufficiency and reveals the need for Christ, calling people to distrust themselves, die to self, and make God rather than human ability their strength. All pomposity and all masterly effort to gain the supremacy is unbecoming, because believers are just God's little children. The plain words that no flesh should glory in His presence leave no room for misunderstanding, and they rebuke self-exaltation, improper affection, and spiritualistic sentimentalism by calling all to humble, obedient childhood before God.
People have no good in themselves that can make them worthy of God's blessings or give them grounds for taking the glory to themselves. Reason, affection, speech, and spiritual discernment all come through the Son's mercy, and human strength and ability to serve acceptably come from Christ's abundant grace which makes the feeble strong and the strong mighty. Any signal blessing comes from God's mercy and loving-kindness rather than from human goodness or righteousness, so praise belongs to God alone. Those fully consecrated to Him depend entirely on Him, return to God all the glory, and make Him their entire dependence.
The highest of all education and the highest culture is the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He sent, which is eternal life. That knowledge is of more value than gold and silver and precious stones, and more to be desired than worldly honor and the empty applause of mortals. Human learning must not replace dependence on God but must lead to holiness and service rather than to worldly distinction, for true wisdom and worth come from God through Christ who is made wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Rightly studying the Bible shows that human intellect is not omnipotent and that human strength without God's help is weakness and ignorance, producing wholesome humility, and the highest culture when guided by love and reverence for God is approved. Human ideas of education are not to be exalted as supreme, and the inclination of educators to extol men is foolishness.
Those who educate God's people must not turn minds from God to man, to disloyal human authors and worldly wisdom, might, and nobility, nor place men where God should be. They must keep greater heights before them, call them to hunger and thirst after righteousness and to receive the Holy Spirit, and honor God. Speech and preaching are to lay aside enticing words of man's wisdom and be in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, preaching Christ crucified as the power of God and the wisdom of God, so that faith stands in the power of God and not in the wisdom of men.
God's church must walk in humility before God because it has nothing to boast about. This means bewailing dullness of intellectual faculties and lack of appreciation for privileges and opportunities, confessing harshness and unchristlike thrusts that grieve the Lord Jesus Christ, and needing to become complete in Him. The weakness of the church comes when members walk as men and divide over human leaders, saying I am of Paul and I am of Apollos, withdrawing from some for imaginary reasons and binding up with others. Ministers are only servants by whom belief comes as the Lord gives to every man, one planting and another watering with differing work and presentation, but God alone gives the increase, so neither is anything and each receives reward according to his own labor and none is to be condemned for difference. Cherishing prejudice, envy, jealousy, evil surmising, strife, and discord separates brethren from each other and from God and greatly hinders the manifestation of the Spirit, who is sent as Comforter and Strengthener when His people obey to be all of one mind, loving as brethren, pitiful and courteous.
Those acting a part in leading out a people and preparing them for translation must get back into right lines of work by standing as sentinels for God, laboring unitedly, being willing servants of all, and following in the footsteps of Jesus the great Exemplar. In troublous times this means not taking eyes off Christ as Leader, denying self and taking up the cross to follow Him, walking as He gave example, bearing much fruit to glorify the Father, and drawing minds out of the darkness of error to Christ. Human rank, wealth, learning, and power do not give Christian influence or grounds for boasting before God. Influence comes from a willing mind and a heart devoted to Christ, for God gives grace for every duty, and even humble service can reveal Christian character and glorify Him. Victory comes not by numbers but by entire surrender to Jesus, through whom God accomplishes a great work through those who may not seem most talented when they rely wholly on Him and labor in humility without self-importance, enabling them to do what more talented people fail to do. The poor and those with limited abilities may enter the kingdom when they live up to the light they have and make faithful use of what little is within their reach, while people with greater abilities, opportunities, and knowledge may be left out if they do not live faithfully.
God gives each man work according to his ability for advancing the Redeemer's kingdom. Yet under temptation a man can pervert his talent, time, intellect, money, and strength to the enemy's forces while counting the advocates of truth inferior to those advancing error, and this comes from lack of spiritual eyesight and need of the heavenly anointing, for the grace of God in the heart changes his estimate of everything relating to God's cause. As God's husbandry and God's building founded on Jesus Christ, and as the temple of God indwelt by His Spirit, believers must place themselves in right relation to God as His property and build for time and eternity. They must do this by obeying the laws of health and caring for His wonderful building and husbandry, in no wise neglecting or defiling it.