The Lord often chooses people to serve Him that many in the world would choose to overlook. The church in Corinth knew this firsthand. While they had some who would have been part of the upper class of society, not all of them were. Instead, many of them were not mighty, wise, or of nobility, but simply ordinary people. By doing this, the Lord demonstrates that He does not always use normal human standards when looking for those to serve Him. By reminding the Corinthians of this truth, Paul would strike at their tendency to be prideful.[1]
In 1 Corinthians 1:26-27, Paul provides a contrast between human wisdom and the Lord’s. He does this by using the phrase “not according to” the flesh, which is another way of saying that the Lord does not use human standards but rather has His own standards when choosing people. The world delights in money, power, position, and fame when choosing people for certain positions. It is important to note that Paul says, “not many” vs. “not any.” While the Corinthians may have had some people of nobility, most of them were of the lower class of the day.
“Yes, Corinth had its share of intellectual superstars, such as Apollos, but for the most part, the Corinthian Christians couldn’t boast in their worldly wisdom, riches, or pedigrees.”[2]
This is not anything particularly new for the Lord, either. Throughout the pages of the Bible, we find many examples of the Lord using various tools, human or material, that the world would have overlooked. For example, in 1 Samuel 16:7, the Lord states that He does not look at things that man often does. The Lord used weak tools, such as trumpets, to take down the walls of Jericho.
“The Old Testament is full of illustrations of God choosing less than promising material as His instruments, both human and otherwise. In the Book of Judges, for example, we see Him using an ox goad (Judg. 3:31), a nail (4:21), trumpets, pitchers, and lamps (Judg. 7:20), a millstone (Judg. 9:53), and the jawbone of a donkey (Judg. 15:15). His method did not change with the coming of Christ, nor has it changed since then.”[3]
The Lord often chooses people to serve Him that many in the world would choose to overlook. The Lord’s methods have been different from the methods of men throughout history. Today, He still uses various people regardless of their status in the world’s eyes. When we reflect on these truths, it will help eliminate any pride in our own lives.
Blessings,
Pastor Steven
[1] See 1 Corinthians 4:6, 18-19, and 5:2 for the topic of pride.
[2] Swindoll’s Living Insights. 1 & 2 Corinthians, pg. 40.
[3] Constable’s Notes on 1 Corinthians.