1 Corinthians 3:18-20 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.… The wisdom here referred to is what Paul calls elsewhere "fleshly wisdom," the "wisdom of the world," or of the age (1 Corinthians 1:20). It may be regarded as mere intellectual knowledge applied to secular and selfish ends, however vast and varied its attainments. I. IT IS SELF-DELUDING. "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world," &c. This worldly wisdom deceives a man, inasmuch as — 1. It leads him to overrate the value of his attainments. He imagines that this kind of knowledge, "wisdom," is everything for a man. Hence the enthusiastic promotion of schools and colleges. But all such knowledge is of no value to man as man, and beyond his brief and uncertain earthly life. 2. It leads him to overrate his own importance. He is "vainly puffed by his earthly mind" (Colossians 2:18). Such a man imagines himself to be very great, he becomes a priggish pedant, he "struts and stares and a' that." II. IT IS SPIRITUALLY WORTHLESS. A man with this worldly wisdom must "become a fool that he may be wise." Two things are here implied. 1. That with all his wisdom he is already really a "fool," for he looks for happiness where it is not to be found. Happiness does not spring from a man's brain, but from his heart; not from his ideas, but from his affections. 2. He is a "fool" because he practically ignores the chief good, which is love for, resemblance to, and fellowship with God. Hence "the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God." The most illustrious scholar, sage, orator, who is considered by himself and his contemporaries to be a man of wonderful wisdom, to the eye of God is a fool. III. IT IS ULTIMATELY CONFOUNDING. "He taketh the wise in their own craftiness." It must confound a man sooner or later either — 1. Here in his conversion, or 2. Yonder in his retribution. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. |
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