Before I left GCT in October, I had the chance to give a sort of speech. Really, I spoke to myself as much as to them. So I think some of you might like to read this, as well. The “||” marks show where I stopped for the translator to speak. Since this was written with translation in mind, I think it would actually lose some meaning or structure if I removed them, so I’ll leave them in – apologies to those for whom they are distracting.
1 Cor 1:22-31 (NIV):
22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Different people have different expectations about what God is like || and about what the people who God chooses to follow him will be like.
In this passage, the apostle Paul is writing to the Christians in Corinth.|| Some are rich, many are poor, || most are Greeks, and a few are Jews. || The Greek people value human wisdom and education || so they believe that God would act according to their wisdom, || and they think God would choose people who are very clever. || The Jewish people believe that the Messiah, the Savior whom God will send, will perform miraculous signs. || They think that the Messiah will become king of the world by his miraculous power.
Americans and Cambodians also have expectations about what following God would be like. || Many Americans want to live an easy life. || They want to be able to do anything they want – they say they want to be free. || They think that God should make their lives easier, || and should give them what they want. || I have only been here three months, || but I think that many Cambodians want to have power over other people, || and want to make more money so they can have more power. || So, they think Christians should be successful, || and that Christian leaders should also have power over people.
But the gospel that the Bible teaches|| is that when the people God made sinned, || God did not use his power to destroy them or force them to change, || and he also did not let them keep doing whatever they wanted. || Instead, Jesus gave up the comfort and power and freedom of being God || and became a human being. || And instead of being born in a comfortable place or a powerful family, || he was born in a stable || to a poor family from a poor town. || And instead of using his power as God to become king of the world at that time, || he became a servant to all people, || and willingly suffered and died. || And his death was very embarrassing and terrible. || It was not an honorable death that a hero or king or rich person would die. || It was the type of death for a poor person who is a criminal. || And this is the type of life he calls his followers to. || It is not wise, it is not a miraculous victory, || it is not comfortable, and it is not powerful… as people see it. || It seems very foolish.
Verses 22-23:
22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
If Paul was writing to Americans and Cambodians, I think this is what he might say, || “Americans look for a selfish life of ease || and Cambodians look for wealth and power, || but we preach Christ crucified, || who asks Americans to take up their cross || and Cambodians to become leaders who serve their followers. || This is foolishness to people who do not know God; || it is the opposite of what they think they want.”
But as Christians, we know that it is not foolish at all. || Because Jesus suffered and died, we can have eternal life. || And because he became a servant to all people, || God raised him to life, || God has rewarded him with glory, || and God has made him King over all people.
Verses 24-25:
24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
So, if Jesus chose to suffer and serve, || what should we look like, || since we are the people that Jesus has chosen to follow him?
Verse 26:
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
What does Paul say the Christians in Corinth are like? || What type of people are like that in Cambodia? || It is amazing that God chooses people like this.
Verses 27-31:
27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Why does it say God chooses people like this?
So I want to encourage you:
Firstly, I want to encourage you || that when you serve other people, through working at GCT and other places, || it seems you are not becoming wealthy or powerful, || and your friends or family members may ask you why you do not find a job that will make you more wealthy or powerful, || But you are following the example of Jesus, || and God sees the work that you do, || and just as he rewarded Jesus, he will reward you. || Maybe not on earth, but in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Secondly, I want to encourage you || if you feel you do not have enough power to do your work. || Many Cambodian people I have met feel they do not know English well enough, || think they need a better education, || or many other things. || Maybe you wonder why God has chosen you to do His work. || But you should not be discouraged. || Because you do not need to have power or knowledge or money by human standards || for God to use you in amazing ways. || God loves to use people who seem foolish, weak, or lowly, || because when He gives them the wisdom and power to do great things, || everyone will know it is because of God. || And if God calls you to do something, || He will give you the power you need to do it.
James 1:9-10:
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their low position—since they will pass away like a wild flower.
I think people sometimes get confused || they think that Christians from the US or Canada or Korea || who have more money or more education or better connections || are more important in God’s kingdom, or can do more work for God than Christians from Cambodia, || But actually, it says in the Bible || that the Christian in humble circumstances has a high position in God’s kingdom that they should be proud of, || and the one who is rich has a low position in God’s kingdom.
So I encourage you to take pride in your high position, || and in the glory you bring to God || as God works through you. || I am so thankful to have worked with all of you for three months, || and I have seen that God is working through you || and that you are bringing Glory to God. || I praise God because of you. || Let him who boasts boast in the Lord!
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