1 Corinthians 3:18 - Don't Deceive Yourself (11-22-11)

1 Corinthians 3:18 - "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise."

Along with the exhortations to 'do not be deceived' and 'let no one deceive you' we're given this exhortation, "Let no man deceive himself." This may catch us by surprise. It's not surprising that Satan wants to deceive us, and it's understandable that the people who Satan has already deceived are going to try and deceive us, but it's surprising that we can actually deceive ourselves. Here in 1 Corinthians the apostle Paul is warning us to be careful not to deceive ourselves concerning wisdom. Look again at what he says - "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise." This is one of those paradox's in scripture that doesn't really make any sense to the worldly mind, but we believe it is true simply by faith because the Bible declares it to be so. It's easy to fall into this snare, into this self deception concerning wisdom. I often have a tendency to think about how much I know, about the Bible, or anything else and think of myself as a pretty wise person, but I'm warned about that very thing right here in this verse. If I truly want to be wise, I must first become foolish.
Many Christians will talk about how God has given us 'common sense' in one area or another, and they especially like to bring it up when they see and disapprove of some way in which we're trusting God by faith. It's true that we have common sense, but the Lord tells us in Scripture not to trust in it, not to rely on it, not to lean on it. The Bible says in Proverbs 3:5-7 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil." If we know something is God's will for us then we can trust Him by faith to perform His work, whatever it may be. It may not make sense to everyone else, and it might not even make sense to you, but that's okay. We may look like fools in our own eyes as well as in the eyes of everyone else, but we can trust in the Lord with our whole hearts.
All throughout the Bible we're given warnings not to be wise in our own eyes. Proverbs 26:12 says - "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him." And twice in the book of Romans Paul says - "Do not be wise in your own estimation." We must become foolish so that we may become wise. The apostle Paul says that the message of the cross is foolishness to the world. In Matthew 18:4 Jesus says - "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." And in Mark 10:15 He says -"Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all" We're called to be like little children. Don't deceive yourself.

1 Corinthians 3:18 - "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise."