NOT MANY

NOT MANY!

1 Cor 1:26-29

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

• Not many wise sophos or clear.
• Not many mighty dunatos, powerful or capable.
• Not many noble eugenes, well born or high in rank.
• We might also add “not many rich.”
  
  
  There is a verse that seems to fit well here also.
  
  
  1 Tim 6:17
  17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
  
  
             I am not as wise as I would like to be and there has been too little time and money to gather diplomas and degrees for my wall. I am not particularly skilled in the tradesman’s arts and I was born of simple but hard working people who endured the Great Depression. I’m not rich. I belong to a band of simple, common believers in a great God.
  
  
             Have you ever wondered why God refuses to bless His children with all these things? Wouldn’t we be more effective in our witness and our work if we had great education and wisdom? Could we not be more influential if we were high born aristocrats? If we were rich the work could move along much more quickly than it does.
  
  
             Certainly God is able to give all these things to His children. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and could surely spare one or two. He could lay bags of gold at the doors of believers if He wanted to. He sent quails to feed the children of Israel in the wilderness – they ate so much that it came out their noses. Why does God keep us down, dumb and poor?
  
  
             God knows that our sinful nature could not handle great wisdom, station or wealth. We would become haughty, arrogant, proud and stingy. We would not thank Him for any of the blessings and would think of God as useless. We remain dependent upon His wisdom, His ability and His supplies because it is simply best. God does all things well.
  
  
  Prov 3:5-10
  5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
  6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
  7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
  8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
  9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
  10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
  
  
  Dear Lord, I have you and that is enough. I thank you that a great store of wisdom and wealth is dispensed to me as I need them. Help me to be a good and thankful steward. AMEN