"God's Wisdom is not Conventional Wisdom"

1st Corinthians 10.32a, 33 NASU

“Give no offense… just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.”

Paul’s remark to “give no offense” flies in the face of conventional wisdom. It appears to accomplish exactly the opposite of its intent. The expectation to “give no offense” is itself offensive! Paul appears to violate several principles of popular thought in his mandate to the Corinthians.

Paul: “give no offense”
Conventional Wisdom: ‘You will occasionally offend someone. That is their problem, not yours.’

Paul: “please all men”
Conventional Wisdom: ‘Don’t be a people pleaser.’

Paul: “not seeking my own profit but the profit of many”
Conventional Wisdom: ‘Establish good personal boundaries and watch out for yourself. You cannot love others if you you don’t first love yourself.’

Paul: “so that they may be saved”
Conventional Wisdom: ‘You can’t change anyone but yourself.’

So-called conventional wisdom may be just another name for the “worldly wisdom” Paul shunned and warned us against.

“…we have conducted ourselves in the world... not according

to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace.”

2nd Corinthians 1.12 NIV

I must take a closer look at Paul’s message. I do not want to face my Maker on judgment day being more familiar with conventional wisdom than the wisdom was found in His Word.

“...guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty

chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called ‘knowledge’

- which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith."
1st Timothy 6.20-21 NASU