“Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” 1 Corinthians 3:18.

This is true. Humility has taught me that: Who I am, God made me; what I know, God taught me; what I have, God gave me; and praise God, where I am, nobody but Almighty God has brought me! There is absolutely nothing in this life that we have or ever will acquire through learning, work, or physical gifts that did not come from the hands of God. “And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.” 1 Corinthians 8:2.

Pride is a deceiver, coming from the enemy of our souls, Satan. It is self-centered and always leaves God out. The Latin word ‘ego’ means ‘I.’ Some people use it as an acronym for ‘edging God out.’ The danger is that pride leads to destruction. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18.

The Apostle Paul was speaking to Christians when he admonished them with these words: “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” 1 Corinthians 3:18. 

The saints in Corinth thought they were wise because they measured status and success by the world’s standards. Even after two thousand years, we still do the same thing today.

We have to admit that we really know absolutely nothing outside of God. “What I know, God taught me!” Wisdom teaches us to reject the world’s understanding and to follow Christ.  Proverbs 9:10 states: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” 

My friends, true discernment and having wisdom come from a humble relationship with our Creator. Are you willing to count all that you know as “dung” like the Apostle Paul? “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” Philippians 3:8a. 

That’s where the rubber meets the road: recognizing that we know nothing outside of Christ, we take every breath and have every thought only possible because of His divine power and amazing grace.

So, let us thank God for what we do have and know, learning to humbly surrender all for His glory, starting this very moment, and He will make our lives complete! 

God’s blessings and peace to all.