The "wise", the "mighty", and the "noble" are those who prefer worldly religious systems to the gospel system. Of these classes, there are very few who ever obey the gospel. Seldom do those who take pride in their superior intellectual attainments become interested in the gospel, nor are those who are born to high position in the world, or who achieve it through unusual abilities, attracted to the story of the cross (cf. Acts 4:5-13; Acts 17:18-32).
How many fabulously rich people are in the church today? How many governors, presidents, kings and equally prominent people in our generation are Christians? Such men have little respect for the simple gospel. Further, those who are in the church are such as are regarded by the world as foolish, weak, base and ignorant, and the gospel they honor contemptible (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:8-13). But, this fact emphasizes the truth of the apostle's argument – that God's ways are not man's ways (Malachi 2:1-9).
The gospel is not compatible with human philosophy; the world by its wisdom, cannot know God (1 Corinthians 1:19-21; cf. Matthew 11:25). By making salvation available through the gospel (not through intricate schemes of human origin), God has put to shame the wise and mighty of the earth, and in so doing, shown how little He regards their efforts to improve the world apart from the gospel.
Earthly wisdom has been utilized for centuries in an effort to resolve the problems of life without success; and it has been utterly unable to bring peace and happiness to the world. It is time for men to turn away from their own vain systems and embrace the gospel system of salvation – the only way to obtain eternal life (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Peter 1:3-5).
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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