A transformed community of ‘God’s fools’

1 Corinthians 3:18-23

¹⁸ Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; ²⁰ and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” ²¹ So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, ²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, ²³ and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.

We are part of an upside-down kingdom, a kingdom in which we are told to become like little children, to be ‘fools’ for God. What does a community like this look like in practice?

One aspect is a willingness to learn from each other. I remember doing outreach with a sister-in-Christ once who was fairly new to the faith. I find meeting new people fairly easy, and I’ve had experience with walk-up evangelism, so I went in feeling ‘wise’, ready to lead. But boy was I the fool! This sister-in-Christ connected so quickly and genuinely with the person we were talking to. She loved them and met them where they were at. I realised the pride in my own heart – I had not entered that situation expecting to be the one learning, and yet I had been humbled and my faith sharpened by just getting to witness this woman at work.

That’s the amazing thing about living as part of our transformed community. We all sharpen each other and reflect God in unique ways. Are you a leader? If so, are you inviting people on to team with the expectation that they will bring something to the role that you can’t? Are you part of the church, but concerned that you have nothing to add? Know that you reflect God in a unique way, a way that others in your community need to see and be sharpened by!

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that we are privileged to be in union with you AND with each other. May we be daily transformed by walking in step with you AND with each other. Thank you for this transformed community!

Written by Rhiannon Mellor