July 14, 2022 — Words of Wisdom, Hippolyte Taine (French Philosopher)

“I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior.” – Hippolyte Taine

“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
    and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of the proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews ask for signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

The Wisdom of the Wise

The French philosopher Hippolyte Taine states, perhaps tongue in cheek, that his cats are the wisest of his contemporaries. My cats come from a less advanced breed of cat, yet their wisdom is often unmatched in understanding my own needs.

Who is the wisest person you can think of in your life? Who has given you the best advice or proven to be right more often than wrong? Some of the wisest people I know spend less time speaking and more time listening. Perhaps that is why Hippolyte considers his cats to be so wise – they have no opportunity to prove otherwise by opening their mouths.

Paul states that G-d’s foolishness is wiser than the wisest of the human mind – that G-d made “foolish” the wisdom of the world. When we read scripture and compare the teachings of the bible to the world in which we live, we soon see how wise are the words of G-d. Story after story and situation after situation remind us that while people may come and go in our lives, the problems and struggles we encounter remain the same. Joseph of Egypt may have died 3500+ years ago but we know what it is like to either be the “favored” or “least favored” child in the family. Paul may have lived 2000 years ago, but we understand how a dramatic experience can take us down a road we may have never considered.

While this world’s wisdom will always prove to be limited, the limitlessness of G-d’s words and wisdom will continue to astound us again and again.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, you not only have the words of eternal life, but you also have the words that continue to lead and guide us. I ask you to continue to give me the words and the advice I need for whatever comes to me today. Amen.

Pastor Dave