OUR DAILY BRED : THE WISDOM OF CROWDS

[cimi]

July 28


THE WISDOM
OF CROWDS

READ:
1 corinthians 1:18-25
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Where there is no
counsel, the people fall;
but in the multitude
of counselors there is
safety.
__Proverbs 11:14
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The online description of The Wisdom of Crowds reads, "In this fascinating book, New Yourker business columnist James Surowiecki explores a deceptively simple idea: Large groups of people are smarter than an elite few, no matter how brilliant__better at solving problems, fostering innovation, coming to wise decisions, even predicting the future."

The author uses a variety of things, ranging from pop culture to politics, to present one basic thought: More often than not, the crowd gets it right. It's an interesting theory, but one that would probably be debated during election years or when someone's favorite contestant is voted off a reality TV show.

While the Bible makes it clear that the wisdom of crowds may not be reliable and can be dangerous (Matt. 7:13-14), there is another way collective wisdom can be helpful. In Proverbs 11:14, we read, "Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." One of the benefits of the body of Christ is that we can asist one another__in part by working together to seek God's wisdom. When we join together to pursue God's purposes, we find safety in His provision of each other and receive His wisdom for the challenges of life. __Bill Crowder

`````````````````````Immortal, invisible, God only wise,````````````````````````
```````````````````In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,````````````````````````
```````````````Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,```````````````````
``````````Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise. __Smith````````````````
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We best pursue the wisdom of God
when we pursue it together.

******************Today's Bible Reading __ Corinthians 1:18-25*********************

18 For the message of the
cross is foolishness to those
who are perishing, but to us
who are being saved it is
the power of God. 19 For it
is written: "I will destroy
the wisdom of the wise, and
bring to nothing the
understanding of the
prudent."

20 Where is the wise?
Where is the scribe? Where
is the disputer of this age?
Has not God made foolish
the wisdom of this world?

21 For since, in the wisdom
of God, the world through
wisdom did not know God,
it pleased God through the
foolishness of the message
preached to save those who
believe. 22 for Jews request
a sign, and Greeks seek
after wisdom; 23 but we
preach Christ crucified, to
the Jews a stumbling block
and to the Greeks
foolishness, 24 but to those
who are called, both Jews
and Greeks, Christ the
power of God and the
wisdom of God. 25 Because
the foolishness of God is
wiser than men, and the
weakness of God is stronger
than men.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In verse 22, Paul referred to the numerous times unbelieving Jews
persistently demanded more mirculous signs from Jesus to prove
that He was the Messiah (Matt. 12:38-39; 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-12;
Luke 11:16; John 2:18-20; 4:48). Jesus warned that it is "an evil
and adulterous generation [that] seeks after a sign" (Matt.12:39;
16:4). He pointed to the cross, His death, and His resurrection
as the ultimate proof. To many, God saving the world through a
condemned criminal executed by crucifixion was unthinkable,
unacceptable, ludicrous, and foolish (1 Corn. 1:23). The jewish
Scriptures taught that "cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"
(Gal. 3:13; cf. Deut. 21:23).