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Aug 10 The true wisdom of God is the rule of love. Romans 13:8-10; 1 Cor 2:6-12 in the midst of conflict.
Children: My brother’s keeper. Cain and Abel.
As we read the New Testament this week we will be finishing the book of Romans and
seeing Paul’s conclusion for how we are to live in God’s grace. We will also begin 1st Corinthians,
which can be seen as case study or application of these principles.
There is a key passage in Romans 12:1-2 (CEB) where Paul writes, “So, brothers and sisters,
because of God’s mercies, I encourage you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy
and pleasing to God. This is your appropriate priestly service. Don’t be conformed to the patterns
of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what
God’s will is – what is good and pleasing and mature.” Paul says this is how we respond to the God
who has reached out to us, by giving ourselves in service of God.
You may recognize this language from our Communion liturgy. Our best response to God’s
love is to offer ourselves as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God. The Christian life is
about more than knowing who Jesus is, it about seeking to conform ourselves to God’s revelation so
that we strive to be holy and pleasing to God. This is tremendously difficult as we battle our pride
and human nature. It is remarkably easy as we trust God for the power and changes required.
Paul says more in chapter 12 as to what this looks like. “Hate evil,” he says, “and hold on to
what is good” (12:9b). I’m surprised to think about Christians hating something, but that’s
apparently how bad evil is. And while we might think hating evil gives us permission to respond in
evil ways, Paul also says “Don’t be defeated by evil, but defeat evil with good.” (12:21) We are so
used to looking for compromise and the middle way that Paul’s all or nothing language can be
surprising.
Even when writing about evil, Paul continually works his way back around to the idea of
love. Love is the ultimate weapon. The only obligation we owe anyone is “the obligation to love
each other.” (13:8) Loving others as we love ourselves is one of those foundational principles in
God’s economy.
This battle between what we naturally do and what God calls us to do goes all the way back
to Genesis. The first two brothers should have been best of friends. When Cain killed Abel, God
asked him where Abel was, you remember the response, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” As I read the
story I just want to shout out, yes! Yes, we are! God’s desire is for us to love each other. God’s way
is for us to care for each other. The Common English Bible says it this way, “Whoever loves
another person has fulfilled the law.” (Romans13:8b)
Therefore, a huge and primary question ought to be, what does love look like? What is the
loving thing to do in any given situation? And that can be a tough question. Sometimes it is easy to
know. Other times, not so much. We have general guidelines, like, Romans 13:10, “Love does no
wrong to a neighbor.” But the specifics can get tricky. Let’s say a person knocks on your door and
says, “I’m hurting and really need a fix. Will you give me $40?” Shutting the door doesn’t seem so
loving. Giving the money doesn’t seem so loving. A response reminiscent of the Good Samaritan
asks a lot of us. What does God ask of us?
The problem is compounded because we live in a world that confuses love with leniency and
affirmation. How often have you heard, “If you loved me, you would let me do what I want.” To
love me is to affirm whatever I want to do. A critical response is considered hateful. To love is
thought to mean you can’t hurt someone’s feelings, but the truth often hurts people as we are
missing the mark. We encourage people to lie rather than risk offending someone. But how do we
hate evil and seek to love if we don’t speak the truth God has revealed? This is not a new problem.
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Watch in Romans this week for how God wants us to be peacemakers and to live in faith which
manifests itself in love.
Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth begins a series of letters that address problems in the
early church as they struggle to live a Christian witness. Paul’s letters are full of encouragement and
they are full of teaching and instruction. Paul was not content to watch these churches just muddle
along. Where Romans has described faith as the way to be righteous with God, Corinthians looks at
how living in love is the correct way to relate to each other. The Corinthians have conflict; the
answer is selfless love. Loving like Christ pulls us above the natural divisions of life. In the first 8
chapters we will hear about problems relating to arguments in the church, pride and wisdom,
immorality, legal disputes, marriage, and what to do when we can’t agree about eating food sacrificed
to idols. Time and again the church needed wisdom to navigate the issues they encountered as their
differences threatened to tear them away from God. Paul wrote them to share godly principles and
wisdom.
The city of Corinth was a fascinating setting for any church. It was a prosperous city and
important in the Roman Empire, roughly equal with Athens as the two major cities in Greece. It sat
on an isthmus, a narrow bridge of land with a port on each side. This narrow bridge of land offered
a shortcut across Greece to avoid the more dangerous seas encountered sailing south of Greece.
Goods could be carried or carted and sometimes whole ships would be dragged the couple of miles
up and across the land to avoid sailing south. It was a city of trade and cultural and religious
diversity. It was a sailor’s city, where anything was permissible. Sexual immorality was rampant. Idol
worship was widespread. Incredibly wealthy citizens profited from the labor of impoverished slaves.
Corinth was a city not unlike our modern setting where permissiveness in thought and
practice is celebrated. The church in Corinth had to confront the philosophy that there are no
absolute standards. People did whatever was right in their own eyes and picked from a smorgasbord
of beliefs. The church in Corinth reflected the diversity of people and beliefs in their city. In the
same way, we struggle today to balance grace – God’s love for everyone, and truth – God’s moral
standard.
Wisdom is the ability to judge rightly and follow the best course of action. It is the ability to
predict the result of various actions and follow the one that offers the best outcome. Sagacious,
prudent, informed, and aware are related words. Depending on who you ask, you often get different
answers as to what is wise, what is the best course of action.
Paul found the wisdom of the world to be in direct conflict with the wisdom God has
revealed. In 1st Corinthians chapter two Paul writes, “We speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden.”
There are some things we can say about this wisdom.
It is God’s wisdom and that means it is eternal and unchanging, just as God is eternal and
unchanging. God has declared what is good and right and that does not vary with shifting
circumstances.
Paul also calls this wisdom secret, meaning it is not the same as common sense, or what everybody
sees and knows. This knowledge is hidden from those who do not look to the right source.
This wisdom has been hidden but is now revealed by the Spirit of God. One of the roles the Holy
Spirit plays is to guide us into wisdom.
There is a spirit of this world and a Spirit of God. So it is incredibly important for us to
discern which Spirit we are listening to for guidance. Paul wrote that “God has revealed [the things
we are to do] to us through the Spirit.” (1 Cor 2:10) The Spirit of God is the source of God’s
wisdom as the Spirit guides us in understanding Scripture and hearing God.
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God has given us many gifts, including the ability to think and predict the outcome of our
actions. We can reason and anticipate the consequences of our choices. Joshua challenged the
Israelites before they entered the Promised Land to choose this day whom they would serve. Jesus
invites us to choose to follow him as his disciples and promises the gift of the Holy Spirit.
We also have been given the gift of feelings, not just the feelings our nerves transmit, but the
ability to have compassion, to feel with others. God’s wisdom guides us to know how others are
impacted by our actions and how by our actions we can help others experience the love of God. The
infant screams it is all about me. But maturity is being able to feel those around us be concerned for
them. Jesus said “do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31). You can’t do that
unless you can see and feel from their perspective. The Spirit helps us to be aware of others.
Finally we have the gift that allows us to choose what we will do. God has given us free will.
With the Spirit we are no longer trapped in the old ways and we have the power to follow God in all
things. This freedom is a gift but it still requires us to choose to follow. The temptations of the
world are still around us, but the Spirit offers to lead us into a life of love.
As we read through Corinthians we will see this conflict between the world’s wisdom and
the wisdom of the Spirit over and over again. When you find yourself in a power struggle the
wisdom of the world might say grab everything you can or do whatever it takes to win. The wisdom
of God says live as servants of Christ, willing to give so that others get. Set aside jealousy and
quarreling and serve Christ by building the kingdom of God.
When the world tells you to look out for number one, the wisdom of God says to set aside
our pride and humble ourselves, just as Christ humbled himself for our benefit. Trust God for
everything you need.
When the world says go ahead and take a look and follow your lusts, God’s wisdom says to
shun immorality and even expel the believer who continues to live in an immoral fashion, refusing
correction or rebuke.
Where the world says get everything you deserve, God’s wisdom says refuse to put greed
above relationships.
Where the world says anything goes, God’s wisdom says that not everything that is
permissible is beneficial.
Where the world says marriage is a disposable contract, God’s wisdom is fidelity in marriage
and chastity in singleness. I goofed that one up in the sermon outline, probably because we say it too
little. The world says that’s too hard a standard. God says that is the wisest path to follow for your
own well-being.
Where the world says do whatever you think is right, God’s wisdom says be careful not to
cause others to stumble. Yes, you have freedom in the Spirit, but continue to think of others and
refuse to do the things that might harm their faith or lead them into sin.
Time and again the world’s wisdom challenges God’s revelation. It is a variation on the
theme as old as the lines in the Garden of Eden, “Did God really say….?” And “you will not surely
die.” (Gen 3). Sin entered the world through one act of disobedience. And through one man, Jesus
the Christ, salvation has come to all who will believe.
As you read the rest of Romans and begin First Corinthians, watch for how the wisdom of
the Spirit of God does not match our natural inclinations. And choose for yourself who you will
follow and what you will do. God has given us the Spirit to help us in this battle if only we will take
up the sword of the Spirit and do battle with the wisdom of the world. Paul’s letters can help us
understand God’s will and follow God’s way.