Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"; and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile." - 1 Corinthians 3:19-20
 
Why is the wisdom of this world foolish? When we see the advances of science and technology in the past hundred years we marvel at the wisdom of men, yet, Scripture declares the wisdom of man to be foolish and futile. Why is that?

I don't know if we have a definitive answer to the question, but I do have some ideas. First let's look at the perspective of man's wisdom as compared to the perspective of God's wisdom. The first  difference that jumps out at me is man's wisdom is based in time and matter while God's wisdom is based in timeless eternity.

The second difference which gets my attention is all of man's wisdom points to the conclusion that man doesn't need God, indeed, man becomes his own God, master of his own destiny.

The wisdom of man today reminds me of the tower of Babel from Genesis 11. Man said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves." Their goal was to invade the heavens, the home of God, and thereby make the statement, "We don't need God, we are our own gods."

The futility of their efforts was shown in v7-8, "Let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth.

In the many thousands of years sense man's first attempts at becoming god he hasn't found a way to start with no matter, no substance whatsoever, and from that nothingness create something. In contrast, God simply stood on the edge of eternity and said, "Let there be light, and there was light." I'll follow the light source.
 
Prayer: Thank you Lord for giving me the understanding that you alone are God and there can be none beside you. Amen.
God Knows The Futility Of This World’s Wisdom
  
Message:   The wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"; and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."
  
Affirmation: I realize the wisdom of this world leads mankind to rely upon his own resources. I choose to trust the God who is the supreme resource for life and light.
  
Reflection: Give some thought to the idea that the wisdom of man seeks to find a way without God while the wisdom of God is to show mankind the way more perfectly. How can you see that in your relationship with God?

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Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the Lord is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed. – 1 Samuel 2:3
 
There is a good story behind this passage. It is a part of the prayer that Hannah, the mother of Samuel made, when she brought him to be dedicated to the service of the Lord.

Hannah’s husband, Elkanah, had another wife, Peninnah. Hannah was not able to have children, but Peninnah had children. It was bad enough that Hannah was barren, but Peninnah kept making fun of her.

Elkanah loved Hannah and tried to reassure her of her place in the home, but the constant reminder of her barrenness had led her into a depression. Her husband loved her, but she was not able to return that love by giving him a son.

Finally, desperate for a son she went to the house of God to pray. She was so distraught that her tears and actions caused the priest to think she was drunk. But God heard her prayer and she conceived Samuel. This son was born to her as a direct result of her desperate cry to the Lord.

Samuel was raised in the house of God and he was not only to become a priest but a great prophet. Two books in the Bible carry his name. He anointed the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. Samuel was true to his calling.

When Hannah made this prayer she seems to be addressing attitude of Peninnah; but the second half of the verse is referring to herself; “for the Lord is a God who knows." Hannah knew her heart was right. She knew that she had conducted herself in an upright manner. When she prayed she knew she had a just cause, and it was her confidence in a just God that gave her the strength to intercede.

When your motive is right and your deeds are right, God will give you the strength to persevere regardless of how you are treated by your adversaries.
 
Prayer: Lord, I am sometimes tempted to retaliate in like manner against those who oppose me. Grant me the grace to seek your grace. In Jesus name, amen.
God Knows And Weighs Our Deeds
  
Message:  When your motive is right and your deeds are right, God will give you the strength to persevere regardless of how you are treated by your adversaries.
  
Affirmation: God not only knows my deeds, but he knows my heart. When my heart is right God hears my prayer.
 
 Reflection: Have you had a time in your life when the burden of the circumstances left you so distraught that all you could do was simply cry out to God? It is in those times that God is moved by our cry.

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