If you look at God’s choice of small nation Israel, of stuttering Moses, of the youngest son David, or of the teenager Mary, then you would see that the people whom God have chosen to portray foolishness and weakness according to human standards. The social standing of these people God has chosen makes them unworthy of the destiny He appointed for them, if we base it on today’s society’s standards.

In Corinth, wisdom, influence and nobility were criteria for social status. However, when it comes to God’s choice, some people would rather choose to do foolish things to shame the wise, the weak things to shame the strong, and the lowly things to nullify existing things.  Isaiah prophesied about this:

“The Lord of hosts has planned it— to defile the pride of all glory, to shame all the honored of the earth” (Isaiah 23:9 NRSV).

            Paul also points out how the three concepts we experience as believers—righteousness, (δικαιοσύνη, dikaiosynē), holiness (ἁγιασμός, hagiasmos) and redemption (ἀπολύτρωσις, apolytrōsis)—we only experience by faith in Jesus Christ alone. There was nothing we did in the past or do in the future that can produce these things in our lives.

We can never be righteous, holy or redeemed by how much money we have in our bank accounts, how many people we have helped, or how many people we minister to. Ultimately, we receive these things because we believe Jesus gives them to us. According to Paul, being an effective member of the Body of Christ is not about “getting smart” or attaining a higher social status. Instead, it is about receiving God’s wisdom, which always has to do with salvation through Jesus Christ.

The benefits of righteousness, holiness, and redemption come through Christ alone. Christ is the only one to whom one should boast. A verse of scripture in 1 Corinthians states that fragmentation is the product of boasting. Paul gave the 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 exhortation to teach the church that boasting is only acceptable if it is boasting in the Lord. Boasting in the Lord only happens when you give back the glory to God.

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Is there any pride in your heart that you must repent of?