Introduction:     Today we are going to conclude the series of messages from 1 Corinthians 3. In this chapter Paul points out 5 major pitfalls that we must avoid in order to progress spiritually. We have been warned about The Pitfalls of....Carnality, Complacency, Carelessness, and Compromise. I trust that in these messages you have determined to apply these truths so that you can avoid these pitfalls. Today I want us to focus on the fifth pitfall the pitfall of Conceit. One who is conceited is one who has an arrogant spirit about them. The Corinthian Church was a group that was steeped in spiritual arrogance. They saw themselves as more spiritual, as more important, and as more wise than they were. We are going to talk about the pitfall of spiritual pride - and they had it. Pride is very deceiving. How then are we to stay out of this spiritual pitfall of conceit? The Bible shares with us Words of Caution we must Hear, and Words of Counsel we must Heed.

I.          WORDS OF CAUTION WE MUST HEAR (VV.18-20)
"Let no man deceive himself…" It is said that the worst deception is self deception. In verses 18, 19 and 20 Paul uses the word "wise" four times and he uses the word "wisdom" once. The Corinthians were wise, but wise with the wrong kind of wisdom.

• Contrast Of Different Kinds Of Wisdom.

(verse 18) "...If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be (what) wise"). It is important to understand that Paul is not speaking of the same kind of wisdom in both of those places.

(verse 19) "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.  For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness."

Verse 20 says "And again the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise that they are vain." He is contrasting the wisdom of this world, with the wisdom of God. Only once does he talk about God's wisdom. That is in the last part of verse 18 where he says if you want to be wise than you must become a fool. Now, the caution is this. We must watch that we don't become dependent or directed by the wisdom of this world. The Corinthians prided themselves in their type of "wisdom".  They lived in a society that exalted knowledge and intellect.  And the Corinthians fell into the pitfall of equating their knowledge and intellect with Godly wisdom. Knowledge and intellect does not equal Godly wisdom. Wisdom is applying the knowledge that you have. Godly wisdom is applying knowledge from God's point of view. Doing things the way God would do them. That is Godly wisdom. Unfortunately the Corinthians thought they were wise. The kind of wisdom they lived by produced... 

• Division In Their Relationships. (6:1-8)

Instead of giving the hand of fellowship they gave the fist of fellowship. They had such anger that some were taking others in the congregation to court to resolve their difficulties. We live in a world where people are constantly struggling with their personal relationships (many levels of relationships... mates, children, employers, co-workers, relatives). Worldly wisdom brings conflict.  If you are surrounded by conflict... understand why.  You may be living by worldly wisdom.

• Immorality. (note 1 Cor. 5) 

Their wisdom made them tolerant of open, blatant sin. They probably thought they were more spiritual because they could be so open-minded. Worldly wisdom will bring sin into your life too.

• Idolatry
• Doctrinal Confusion
• Worship That Caused More Harm Than Good.

That's what worldly wisdom brought them. What happened to the Corinthian church should not surprise us.  Especially when we understand what the scriptures tell us about worldly wisdom. Look for example at James 3. Here James addresses first in verse 15...

A.        The Origin Of Worldly Wisdom (Jas. 3:15 )

Did you know that we can trace the roots of worldly wisdom all the way back to the Garden of Eden.  The tempter came on the scene and enticed Eve to partake of the forbidden fruit.  She looked at the fruit and she saw it as something that would make her wise.  Not Godly wise, but worldly wise!

B.         The Outcome Of Worldly Wisdom (Jas. 3:16 )

Confusion.... comes from a term that means "anarchy"...we put ourselves in charge.  That is what is at work in our world - A wisdom that... Eliminates God and Exalts Man. Man tries to eliminate God as our creator and conscientiousness. The world wants us to believe that there is no to whom we are accountable. What are the results....unwed mothers, drug addiction, more teens smoking than ever, more runaways, more teen suicide, drunkenness, divorce, Aids, abortion.... all because our world has bought the lie that we don't have to give an account to God. That is the wisdom of this world! We eliminate God when we exalt ourselves. Proverbs 3:7 "Be not wise in thine own eyes…"

We need to hear these words of caution... Don't be deceived by worldly wisdom.

II.         WORDS OF COUNSEL MUST HEED
In the last part of verse 18, Paul tells us how we can truly experience God's wisdom. Here's the way of wisdom.  The Bible says, if you really want to be wise..."become a fool…that he may be wise". The Bible says if you want Godly wisdom, become a fool. Doesn't that rebuke our pride?  We don't like that too much do we? The world rejects God's wisdom as foolish.  The point is that if we are going to escape the pitfall of worldly wisdom, we must go the opposite direction of worldly wisdom. Look back at chapter 1 for a moment.  I want to show you a couple of things that the world considers foolish.

A.        Worldly Wisdom Sees God's Message As Foolish ( 1:18 ) 

Paul is dealing with the division in the Corinthian Church .  Remember they were divided over preachers ( 1:12 -18). So Paul underscores the fact that his main purpose was to come and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, the message of salvation (vv.18; 21b; 22; 23; 24). The world considers the message of salvation as stupid. Sometimes we wonder why some individuals don't get saved.  We need to remember that no one can be saved until their minds are enlightened by the Holy Spirit of God.  These truths are not truths that can be grasped merely by human wisdom.  It takes the ministry of the Holy Spirit to make these truths real in a person’s soul. Some of you who are here today may be wondering why all of these people are here, and why they are singing those songs, why are they doing what they are doing? The answer is simple... we believe the message of the cross. The message of the cross says that we are sinners who need a Savior, and Jesus Christ, not some higher power, is the Savior that we need.  Two thousand years ago Jesus went to Calvary and there on the cross He took all that hell had to offer so that we could be saved hell and the power of sin in this life.  He did that for me, and he did that for you. The world says... that is stupid.  Those who think that are convinced that if there is a heaven, they will make on their own merit. Godly wisdom says the only way of salvation is through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Let me quickly show you a second thing that the world considers foolish.

B.         Worldly Wisdom Sees God's Methods as Foolish

The methods of God do not make sense to worldly wisdom. (1: 26-29) God chooses to use "foolish things, weak things… base things, despised things.." The purpose is that "no flesh should glory in His presence". No one in His presence will strut around about their works.  No one will boast about what they have done. In his presence we will see how undeserving we were.

Conclusion:       What kind of wisdom are you dependent on today?  What kind of wisdom are you allowing to direct your life? Hear the caution and heed the counsel... if you want to live God's way, become a fool.  Accept what the world rejects, the message of the cross. All of us are headed for a eternity.  Which path will you choose - The path of worldly wisdom, or Godly wisdom?