1 Corinthians 1:27 (NKJV): 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.
Many things that seem foolish to the world, God calls it wise, and many things that seem wise to the world, God calls it foolish! This is how antagonistic things can be between God's ways and man's ways! James 4:4 says, 'Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God'. And Romans 8:7 says, 'Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be'. By the way, the word 'enmity' here is 'echthra' in Greek, meaning 'adversary, hostility, opposition'.
It is just like blood transfusion. If a person with blood type A receives transfusion from a person with blood type B (and vice versa), you'd have a condition called 'ABO incompatibility reaction'. It means the body's immune system will attack the new (foreign) blood cells and tries to destroy them! Why? Because these are just simply incompatible!
Now, don't get me wrong. This doesn't mean we are to live like a hermit in the world! This isn't what God wants to convey to us. What He wants to convey to us is we are not to get sucked into the ways of this world, or the ways of our own flesh! Because these won't last, and won't stand when 'the rain descends, the floods come, and the winds blow and beat on the house' (Matthew 7:24-27). The 'house' here can speak of 'you, or whatever you are doing in life'.
Romans 12:2 says, 'And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God'. The word 'prove' here is 'dokimazo' in Greek, and it can mean 'to allow'. In other words, if you pattern not after the ways of this fallen world, but rather, be transformed by the renewing of your mind to pattern after God's ways, you are effectively allowing what is good, acceptable, and perfect will of God to happen in your life!
Let me show you some examples by referring to the Beatitudes (i.e. the blessings listed by Jesus) in Matthew 5:1-12.
In Matthew 5:5, Jesus (the Word) says, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
But what does the worldly way say? "Those who are aggressive shall inherit the earth!"
In Matthew 5:7, Jesus (the Word) says, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."
But what does the worldly way say? "By hook or by crook, get what you can, can what you get, and sit on the can!"
In Matthew 5:8, Jesus (the Word) says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
But what does the worldly way say? "Those who are cunning shall see profits/results!"
In Matthew 5:9, Jesus (the Word) says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
But what does the worldly way say? "Those who pull down others shall get promoted!"
You see the 'opposites' here? That's exactly what 'enmity' or 'echthra' means! But people of God, choose God's ways today, and He will know how to back you up, even in ways you cannot imagine yet. Watch how He's going to take over your situation from here. Never mind if the world calls you stupid, foolish, or whatever they want to call you. Because what seems foolish to the world, God calls it wise! Why? Because you are building your 'house' on the rock (i.e. the Word), and not on the sand! (Matthew 7:24-27)
The wise referred to here in Matthew 7:24-27 is the word 'phronimos' in Greek, meaning 'those who are sensitive (to God), or those who have understanding (of God, who He is, and how He works)'. These are whom God will use to put to shame the 'wise' of this world. Let one of those 'phronimos' be you! "Blessed are you..." In Jesus' name. Amen!
