1 Corinthians 3:18
Memory Verse
Let no one completely deceive himself. If someone thinks to be wise among you in this age, let him become a fool, in order that he may come to be wise (1 Corinthians 3:18).
An age is a period in which God is showing something to intelligent beings about Himself. The present age is a malignantly evil age, in which Lucifer’s malignant character is manifested in contrast to God’s good character. Lucifer, the Cherub who ruled over the universe before his fall, is the god of this age (Ezekiel 28:14–16). He is the one who governs the age of this world system in which we live, energizing the sons of the unpersuaded (Ephesians 2:2).
If any among us thinks himself to be wise concerning this age, he is to become a fool so that he can be wise. The wisdom of this age is foolishness and futile (1 Corinthians 3:19–20). As salt that has lost its ability to preserve has no value, so is the wisdom of this world to the Christian (Matthew 5:13–“flavor” is from the same root word for “foolish” and does not mean to season or make palatable, but expresses a loss of the essential quality to preserve). A Christian who perceives himself as wise according to this age will bring in the methods of the age as a means of maturity. This involves debating rather than teaching (1 Corinthians 1:20), along with methodologies to grow the Church in number and wealth that require setting aside doctrine (Revelation 3:17).
The wisdom of this world is fleshly, demonic, and earthly in nature (James 3:15). It is a wisdom that involves self-seeking and jealousy (James 3:16). In contrast to the wisdom of this age, the wisdom from God is pure (unmixed), peaceable (relating to an unruffled mind), gentle, of a good persuasion, full of mercy and beneficial fruit, without partiality and hypocrisy (James 3:17).
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Corinthians 3:18). As it is written, God will make foolish the wisdom of the wise of the world. He will set aside their understanding (1 Corinthians 3:19). We are not to be children in our understanding concerning the word of righteousness, but are to be inarticulate babblers when it comes to the wrong of this age (1 Corinthians 14:20; Hebrews 5:13–14).
Therefore, the one who thinks he is wise concerning this age is to become foolish according to this knowledge so that he can become wise in the wisdom that is from above. The sons of this age are more shrewd in their way of thinking concerning the age than the sons of light (Luke 16:8). Let us not become one of those fully deceived by the wisdom of this age, for the fondness of money is a root of wrong, and partiality has no place among the saints.