Here you can see West Point Lighthouse. It is basically (almost) in downtown Seattle, being located on a point of land at the northern entrance to Elliott Bay.
I chose to use this particular lighthouse (representing my city) for this post because the people in my city are very knowledgeable and intelligent … just like the people in ancient Corinth were. Some of the largest Tech giants have their headquarters in my city. The people in my city are on the “bleeding edge” as they lead the AI charge which will unequivocally and irreversibly turn the world upside-down!
Likewise, the people of my city have impressive speaking skills … just like the people in Corinth had. The people in my city are savvy in business dealings, savvy in negotiating, savvy in streamlining work flows, savvy at turning a profit, savvy at creative solutions to complicated problems, etc. …
And just like the ancient city of Corinth, the overwhelming vast majority of people in my city are not godly. They use their great knowledge and their impressive speaking skills to profit themselves. They lie, cheat, and steal in the most underhanded, covert, and impressively devious ways.
The Christians in Corinth had this proclivity. After all, this used to be their background and their lifestyle. This behavior was their default.
Paul warns them:
“’I [God] will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’
“Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” – 1 Corinthians 1:19-20
Paul further warns them:
“Do not deceive yourselves. If anyone 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 3:18-20
Paul is telling the Christians in Corinth: Don’t get it backwards. Your wisdom and intelligence is not so you can manipulate people and situations in order to gain a personal advantage. Your wisdom and intelligence is not to make you awesome. It’s not about you … at all.
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge … but have not love, I am nothing.” – 1 Corinthians 13:2
Wisdom and intelligence don’t mean anything without love.
Wisdom and knowledge are only a “tools” … in order to demonstrate love toward others. Wisdom is to be used to help others … as a demonstration of love. Knowledge is to be used to help others … as a tangible demonstration of love.
The whole point is to love others.
