In a culture obsessed with talent, credentials, wealth, strength, beauty, influence, intelligence, and charisma, the Bible repeatedly shows us God’s surprising pattern: He delights to take ordinary people—those the world overlooks or dismisses—and use them to accomplish extraordinary things for His glory. The Apostle Paul, writing to the proud, divided church in Corinth, reminds us that God’s purpose is to glorify Himself, and He accomplishes this best by using people the world considers insignificant.
1 Corinthians 1:25–31 declares this revolutionary reality with stunning clarity.
Paul begins with a bold paradox: “[T]he foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (v. 25) What the world calls foolish—the cross, a crucified Savior, a message of salvation by grace alone—is beyond human wisdom. What seems weak—human frailty and total dependence on God—is stronger than human power. The people the world considers “foolish” and “weak” have gifts God can use for His glory because their “flaws” dramatically expose His power and wisdom. The Bible makes it clear that God has chosen what the world calls “foolish” and “weak” to shame the wise and mighty, nullifying all human boasting so that no flesh may glory in His presence. (1 Corinthians 1:25–29)
Paul drives this home and directly addresses the Corinthian church: “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” (v. 26) Most of these believers were not scholars, not powerful rulers, not from noble families. They were ordinary, even lowly—slaves and laborers. Yet God called them. Why? Because “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are.” (vv. 27–28)
Isn’t this an amazing promise?
God deliberately selects the “nobodies,” the foolish, the weak, the despised; that is, the “things which are not,” to render powerless and reduce to nothing the proud, the self-sufficient, and the impressive. His reason is clear: “That no flesh should glory in His presence.” (v. 29) Paul is not saying that God does NOT use brilliant, strong, or talented people. But he is reminding them of how much easier it is to attribute success to God rather than human ability when He works through the unlikely or the ordinary. Then, the glory can only go to Him.
Paul drives this point home: “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” (vv. 30–31) Our very existence is from God. Jesus Himself is our wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification, our redemption. Everything we have is a gift; therefore, boasting is like stealing credit from God.
This truth liberates us from the burden of pride and self-sufficiency!
God can use ANY person, regardless of talent, intellect, or ability, because the goal is HIS glory, not ours. In fact, He seems to prefer those who feel least qualified. The person who knows his or her weakness is more likely to trust fully in God. Such people cry out for His power, His wisdom, His strength. Those who rely on their own gifts—intelligence, charisma, and resources—tend to trust themselves instead of Him.
The weak, when God works through them, point unmistakably to His divine power.
This pattern runs throughout Scripture. God took a stammering fugitive named Moses and used him to confront Pharaoh and lead a nation out of slavery. God said, “Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” (Exodus 4:12) He chose Gideon, the least in his father’s house, hiding from the enemy, and sent him to defeat Midian with just 300 men, saying, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” (Judges 6:12) He anointed David, a teenage shepherd boy ignored by his own family, to slay Goliath and become one of Israel’s greatest kings. Samuel, when choosing a king, heard God say, “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) He called fishermen like Peter and Andrew, saying, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)
Time and time again, God takes ordinary people and does extraordinary works.
I want to do extraordinary work that will be remembered for eternity, don’t you?
This requires that I continue to develop the mind and attitudes of Christ. I need to constantly remember my desperate need for God if I want to accomplish great things. Any talent, intelligence, or strength I have—comes from Him. I do not want to be deluded by the lie of being self-sufficient. I want my everyday prayer to be, “I know I can’t do any of this without You!” God loves to answer these prayers. And when God chooses to do miraculous works through me, I can’t steal the credit. The glory goes straight to Him.
My friend, God can use the single mom with no seminary degree to disciple her children and neighbors. He can use the quiet office worker with average abilities to share the Gospel at lunch and lead a coworker to Christ. He can use the retiree with creaky joints and limited energy to pray fervently, engaging the Holy Spirit to wage mighty spiritual warfare in ways the world never sees.
Extraordinary accomplishments don’t require extraordinary people; rather, ordinary people who depend wholly on our extraordinary God.
Our calling is not to become impressive so God can use us. Our calling is to stay humble, stay dependent, stay faithful—and watch Him do what only He can do. The world may think we’re insignificant—but they will not be the ultimate judge of what matters and what lasts. So embrace your ordinariness and allow God to make you extraordinary. Don’t compare yourself to others. If you are born again, you have a multitude of opportunities before you today. Think of each soul you meet today as someone who may need Jesus. By God’s power, you could be the one to radically change his or her eternity.
God specializes in turning ordinary people into instruments of His glory.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for choosing the ordinary, the weak, and the overlooked to accomplish Your extraordinary purposes. Forgive me when I think I must be more talented, smarter, or stronger before You can use me. Help me to rest in the truth that You delight to work through those who know their need for You. Empty me of pride and self-reliance, and fill me with humble dependence on Christ, who is my source of wisdom, righteousness, and love. Use my ordinary life to do extraordinary things for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
