Were you ever one of the last ones to be picked for a team? I was. I never expected to be one of the chosen ones. I was a realist about my sporting prowess, plus, I was never cool, so I wasn’t going to be picked on the basis of being influential! Even so, I remember the sinking feeling of standing waiting …. By the end, you weren’t chosen … you were allocated.

I didn’t know the phrase then but ‘bottom of the barrel’ is the idea that is half-jokingly thrown around when you’re an adult. It’s not what you want to be: there’s no prestige, no ‘she’s done well for herself’. There’s no … boasting.

As Paul writes to brothers and sisters in Corinth who want to be seen as influential and recognised and wise, he reminds them of their calling and the reality of their lives this side of eternity. After pondering the wisdom of God in v18-25, Paul reminds the Corinthian Christians that they are a wonderful illustration of the wisdom of God, wisdom that the world is blind to.

Most of those in the Corinthian church were not wise in the world’s eyes, or strong, or even influential. There were a few who were, just as there are some within the body of Christ today who are heralded as the great minds, the physically impressive, or the wealthy influencers of our world. But most of the church, then and now, are somewhat more average … on a good day. But regardless of what we are according to worldly standards, those who are called into fellowship with the Son (v9) have been chosen. Not allocated, chosen. What an incredible privilege! In his wisdom, God, who is love, chose what is foolish, weak and despised in the world’s eyes and brought us into fellowship with his Son, King of kings and Lord of lords. And he did this so that any boasting can only be about his grace, his undeserved kindness (v31). It is because of God that all believers – regardless of race or gender or class – are in Christ Jesus and Christ alone is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. Each of those words captures worlds of grace that we do not have time to delve into here, but the meaning is clear: salvation has been given to us because of God’s willingness to choose us from the beginning. Not because we are impressive or influential but because of his undeserved kindness. If there’s to be any boasting about being on this team, it’s to be boasting about the one who chooses, not about being chosen.

Take a moment to reflect on God’s wisdom and give him thanks for his grace towards you in Christ Jesus. How might you boast about his wisdom and his grace this week?

Gracious God,

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are your ways higher than my ways and your thoughts higher than my thoughts. Thank you that you are the God who chooses, and you call those you choose into fellowship with your Son. Thank you that in your wisdom you have chosen what is weak and lowly and despised in the world’s eyes, so that no one can boast in your presence. Please help me to speak of your wisdom and your grace today, so that Christ Jesus may be glorified in me. I ask this in his name, Amen.

Emma Newling is a member of the EQUIP Committee. She is married to Scott and is the mother of three growing sons. Emma enjoys the opportunity to talk to lots of children every week about Jesus in her role as a an assistant school chaplain.

1 Corinthians 1: 26 - 31 Let the one who boasts...