and i was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. [1 corinthians 2:3-5]
where does your faith ‘rest?’
money: i am tempted to put my faith in the material…the things that the world values. if i can just save enough money, then i can rest, then i will be secure.
comfort: i am tempted to push into the comforts of this world. if i can avoid the pain of this world, and amass enough comfort, i will be happy.
the praise of men: i need to gain accolades. i need to gather followers. i need the ‘attaboys’ and the social media likes. i need to be seen.
my own self-righteousness: i can be good enough. i can be better in comparison. i can grit my teeth and grind to check all the boxes. i am dutiful.
the wisdom of men: i can follow the right guru. oprah. jordan peterson. john piper. i just need to get the system right. my philosophy right.
all of these things will rot..and die and pass away. oh, that our faith would not rest in these things! oh that we might obey the admonition of 1 corinthians 2:5 and rest in the power of almighty God! He is better!
we can rest in:
a Savior that upholds the universe by his word!
he is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. after making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. [hebrews 1:3-4]
a God of immeasurable power!
He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. [psalm 147:4-5]
a God who has given us all we need to seek godliness!
his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to] his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire [2 peter 1:3-4]
a God who has not withheld his own son, who has given us all things!
he who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? [romans 8:32]
augustine had it right when he said, “thou hast made us for thyself, o Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”
let us not waste our lives, letting our faith rest in the wisdom of men.
Father!
i confess my restlessness. i confess that i have let my faith rest on the failing wisdom of men. shake me of my complacency and give me zeal for your name! let my rest, my trust, my hope be in you alone. you alone are worthy of praise!
amen.
~conor eastman