Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don’t see many of “the brightest and the best” among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn’t it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks… (1 Cor 1:26-27 MSG)

You may have heard the old joke, ‘How many people in history were born to be President? None – they were born to be babies!’

The Apostle Paul, writing to his spiritual children in the church at Corinth wanted to remind them of who they were, what they were like,  when they were called by God to a life of faith in Jesus Christ. Were they influential or outstanding individuals? It seems not.

Wisdom, influence and standing – both then and now – are often seen as the qualifying factors in determining the value of an individual and the degree to which they can contribute to the community in which they live.

As people we look to learning and knowledge as the source of wisdom; God looks at righteousness: to what extent and to what ends do we apply that which we have learnt in our everyday lives?

As people we value influence, whether it be found in physical ability or perceived powers of persuasion; God looks at holiness: how do we tangibly express the influence we have as Christians in our immediate environment?

As people we look to social status, our place in the family or society to determine where we belong, and ultimately to determine where others belong in relation to us; God offers redemption, a place in His family as children of God, loved and chosen regardless of heritage or hierarchy.

God calls us as we are, but he doesn’t leave us that way!

God takes those who in the eyes of the world are deemed to be foolish, weak and inconsequential, and uses them for His purposes and for His glory; in doing so the victory is even greater! All of this is so we will not rely on the wisdom of other people, rather that we would come to a personal realisation of the power of God.