We are easily Deceived

1 Corinthians 3:18-23

“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.”

Let me make it very clear this paper is intended for a follower of Christ, for this reason; “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” (1Corinthians 2:14)  Now with that said, I believe Christians are the most easily deceived people in this world and I’m not sure why?  Take a family that has a child that shows a little talent in sports, and this is the wisdom of this world; another year of watching parents put unrealistic expectations on their child.  Here are the facts.  Most kids won’t play sports in high school.  Almost every kid won’t play sports in college.  There’s almost no chance you will know anyone who plays professional sports.  Your child has a better chance of being a brain surgeon than playing baseball for the Cardinals, basketball for the Lakers, or football for the Cowboys.  (By Michal Smith)

Now I’m not anti-sports, I have two grandsons who I believe might be playing someday for a college team, but hear the message being given to their parents, if you do not play year round with travel club ball, there is no chance of playing college ball.  So drop church, and everything else and do what is best for your child.  Michal Smith is not the only one that is saying this is foolishness, look at this article by Ki Dell’ Antonia.  “Consider the impact of a sports season on the budget of a family with an annual income under $50,000: Club fees can run several thousand dollars even before you add the uniforms, equipment, travel expenses and additional coaching, camps, and year-round leagues considered necessary for real “success.” Consider, too, the time. A child focusing on a single sport will spend thousands of hours on it by the time he graduates high school — hours that necessarily aren’t spent on exploring other options or learning new skills.”

That is just a little of the foolishness of this world, and I will let you think about how you have been drawn into the world’s game of moving from dependence on your Creator to looking to the foolishness of the world.  If God has blessed your son or daughter with a passion and gifts, and that is His plan for them, who can stop them?  I wrote this paper on April 27, 2016, and I am glad it was not sent to you earlier, for one reason, our senior high pastor preached this morning and reminded parents that from birth they have 936 weeks before their child leaves home for college or other pursuits.  And from the time they begin to drive they only have 156 weeks left.

The Holy Spirit has stated in 1 Corinthians 1:18-19, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the experts.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice