Not The Wise And Not The Noble

 March 18

"For you see your calling, brethren,
that not many wise according to the flesh,
not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world
to put to shame the wise,
and God has chosen the weak things of the world
to put to shame the things which are mighty..."
1 Corinthians 1:26-27

It used to embarrass me when I would sit in traffic behind a dilapidated car with Christian decals on it. It seemed to me a poor witness for Christ. You will rarely, if ever, see such decals on the bumpers of new and expensive cars ...and that speaks volumes.

In the world, believers are mocked and the rich and "successful" are esteemed. But in the world to come, in many cases it will be the very opposite.

So who ARE the ones called in place of the wise? They are those who recognize their need. The rich trust in themselves and in their riches and often don't realize their need for the Lord. Pride is one of the major things that keeps one from turning to God. But those who are weak know only too well their need for him.

Note the "many" versus the "few:"

"Enter by the narrow gate,
for wide is the gate and broad is the way
that leads to destruction,
and there are MANY who go in by it.
Because narrow is the gate and difficult
is the way which leads to life,
and there are FEW who find it."
Matthew 7:13-14

You are far more blessed if you have need and are among "the few." Woe to them who are content in their riches but are among "the many."