1 Corinthians 1:26-30 For you see your calling, brothers, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:… Paul's point appears to be that the wisdom of God is declared in his using moral rather than material or intellectual forces in carrying out his great purpose of human redemption. The material forces had to be set aside in order that the moral forces might work without obstruction; therefore only the simplest human agents were chosen as the apostles and first preachers of the gospel. It is stilt true that moral character and spiritual affinities are the best fitnesses for Christian service. It may be well to compare the moral and the intellectual powers. I. THEY ARE OFTEN CONNECTED IN THE SAME PERSON. There is no natural divorcement between them. They may be found in becoming harmony. II. IN IDEAL MANHOOD THEY MUST BE SO CONNECTED. For the ideal man has all the faculties and powers of his nature proportionally and harmoniously cultured and developed. III. IN ACTUAL FACT THEY ARE TOO OFTEN SEVERED. And this is the fact, mainly by reason of the disturbance and disorder of man's nature, which follows as the consequence of sin. Self will tends to nourish those parts of our nature through which we may gain human place and praise; and so it fosters the material and intellectual at the expense of the moral and spiritual. IV. GOD SETS MORAL POWER AT THE HIGHEST VALUE. And this he manifests and declares in every revelation he makes to men, passing by the "rich and great and wise" to exalt the humble and the meek. He honours moral power because of its sphere. It is character, and the influence of character, the force of the man himself, of what he is. And because of its agent. It is the soul, the man's very self, and not the mind, which is only something the man has. Then show what is the true self culture. - R.T. Parallel Verses KJV: For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: |
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