Reflections on 1 Corinthians 1:19
“For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’” (1 Corinthians 1:19, NIV, quoting Isaiah 29:14)
The Remedy puts it this way: “God’s method of self-sacrificing love will destroy the world’s wisdom of promoting self first.” The world says look out for number one. God’s way is the opposite, and it leaves the world baffled.
Our minds, as well as our bodies and hearts, are being healed and restored to the image of God. To have the mind and heart of God is to act out of love for ourselves and for others. Loving ourselves, rightly understood, means refusing to do anything that would compromise our ability to do all the good we can, for ourselves and for others. When our hearts and minds are in tune with the heart of Christ, this is not a selfish thing. We are to live to bless others; it is the only way we can truly be happy.
How can we be a blessing if we are so broken in body and mind that we cannot choose or carry through the good we find each day to do? So we do the best for ourselves: eating well and getting good exercise, for the benefit of our bodies, emotions, and minds. We learn to love well through practice. We show up when we are truly needed. We choose the hard things regardless of the outcome, and learn to leave the results with God.
All of this is life: daily choosing to be present, wise, and loving to others and to ourselves. And sometimes love must disappoint the expectations of the immature, selfish, self-focused babe in the faith. It is a choice to do the hard thing, standing firm in the face of the anger, misunderstanding, and hurt of someone we love and care for. Each day we must receive Grace and Love from the Father for that day’s trials, duties, and choices.
This is what defeats the wisdom of the wise: our connection to the Source of all wisdom, the prudence and Love that flow from the wisdom of God. When our choices are made with a focus on blessing others, those who are self-focused will be baffled, unable to understand where we are coming from. It is not a choice they would ever make. Their plans to advance self and gain all they can in this world are not our goals. Our goal is to grow closer to the One who can truly supply every need, the real needs, the One who can truly satisfy our hearts’ desires. We want to be like Jesus. Nothing else in this world matters.
