Deplorable inferiors ∙∙
Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things considered worthless, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. – 1 Corinthians 1:27-28
1 Corinthians 1:18-26
18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.
19 As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”
20 So, where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish.
25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.
26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.
Overcoming the Burden of Inferiority
A recurring message inundates our lives, making us feel inadequate and unworthy. We often feel as though we don’t measure up. This relentless pressure leads to anxiety, fear, frustration, and a sense of dread that can become overwhelming. The effects are especially apparent among teens and young adults, as evidenced by alarming suicide statistics.
Statistics on Teen and College Suicide
The facts are sobering. The American College Health Association (ACHA) highlights a harrowing trend over the decades. Since the 1950s, the suicide rate among young adults aged 15-24 has surged by over 200%.
In 2021, approximately 1100 suicides occurred on college campuses, making suicide the second most common cause of death among college students. Nearly 5% of students at four-year colleges have seriously contemplated suicide. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 49% of students within the educational system have been diagnosed with or treated for depression, highlighting the significant mental health challenges these young individuals face.
These alarming statistics show that many students feel deeply inadequate. They often perceive themselves as “deplorable inferiors.” Sadly, many people choose to end their lives when stress and despair become overbearing.
The Father’s Amazing Love
In the midst of our struggles with self-perception and despair, we often believe that God loves us in spite of our shortcomings. However, the truth is that the Father has chosen to love us because of them! He loves us just as we are: deplorable inferiors.
Instead of shunning our weaknesses, God embraces them. Take a moment to let that idea resonate. The Father is different from what we might expect; He has chosen to love the weak, the ordinary, the despised, and those who seem inconsequential in this world. Moreover, He has decided to use us in His service, to fulfill His purpose, and to draw attention to Himself.
This truth is captured beautifully in 2 Corinthians 4:7, “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”
God’s love doesn’t depend on our worthiness. His love restores, empowers, and redefines us.
Take a moment to reflect on this. The Father’s love affirms who we are, weaknesses and all.
REFLECT & PRAY
Even in the midst of personal achievements, self-doubt can plague us, leaving many feeling unworthy. But this truth remains: God loves us unconditionally.
Father, I often find myself lacking when I critically examine myself. Despite my feelings of inadequacy, I am convinced of Your unwavering love for me. Help me to place complete confidence in You. Work through my weaknesses and allow Your power, not mine, to shine brightly in this world.
INSIGHT
Our True Worth Lies in the Father’s Love
Our value and worth are not determined by our achievements or by who society says we are. Instead, they are rooted in the unwavering love of the One who values us most. The ultimate measure of our worth is found in the eyes of the One who loved us so deeply that He gave His Son for us.
Stanley observes, “The most accurate assessment of our worth comes from looking into the eyes of the One who loved us enough to die in our place.”
Standing on the Foundation of God’s Love
Understanding and truly comprehending the Father’s love for us is the key to our significance. His steadfast love and kindness form a solid foundation that helps us withstand the feelings of failure and unworthiness that life frequently throws our way. When we rest in His love, we stop berating ourselves for our shortcomings and instead draw strength from Him. With His help, we can face and overcome our challenges.
God Rejects Societal Values
Fallen humanity celebrates power, status, material wealth, and recognition. Yet, the Father operates differently. He chooses those whom the world deems foolish, weak, low-born, and despised. He chooses the ones society calls the “are nots,” individuals seen as worthless or contemptible. The world may label them as “a bucket of deplorables,” but God calls them His beloved. The message and miracle of the Father’s grace utterly confounds the high and mighty people of this world.
The so-called wisdom of the world cannot comprehend the astounding transformation the Father performs in the lives of sinners. His “foolishness” surpasses the intelligence of the wise, and His “weakness” triumphs over the strength of the mighty.
The Mocking Critique of Celsus
Circa 178 AD, a critic named Celsus wrote a scathing critique of Christianity. His scorn was focused on Christianity’s appeal to ordinary people. Barclay recalls, “Of the Christians, he wrote: ‘We see them in their own houses, wool-dressers, cobblers and fullers [people who clean clothes], the most uneducated and vulgar persons.’ He said that the Christians were ‘like a swarm of bats, or ants creeping out of their nests, or frogs holding a symposium round a swamp, or worms in a conventicle in a corner of mud.’”
He sneered at Christians as being workers of humble trades and used demeaning imagery to describe them, “Let no cultured person draw near, none wise, none sensible; for all that kind of thing we count evil; but if any man is ignorant, if any is wanting in sense and culture, if any is a fool, let him come boldly.”
A History of Transformation
It’s ironic that Celsus mocked and demeaned what embodies the glory of Christianity. Christianity transformed those considered insignificant into true men and women; more importantly, it made them sons and daughters of the King. It instilled self-respect in those who felt worthless, offering eternal life to those who felt lifeless. It conveyed the message that, even if they did not matter to others, they mattered immensely to God. It assured those whom the world deemed worthless that, in God’s eyes, they were valued enough to warrant the death of His only Son. Christianity was, and continues to be, the most uplifting force in the universe.
Christianity has provided dignity to the downtrodden, hope to the hopeless, and value to the overlooked. It reminds those who feel rejected by society that God cherishes them. The sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ shows how deeply they matter to Him. Great sinners have been changed into saints through the power of the Gospel.
The Uplifting Power of the Gospel
Christianity remains a source of restoration and hope. It declares to all who feel forgotten by the world that they are priceless in God’s eyes. While the mighty of this world may reject the weak, God celebrates them as His own.
A Choice to Make
This presents us with a significant choice. Would you prefer to experience the Father’s love and grace, even if you see yourself as a “deplorable inferior,” while knowing your true worth in Him? Or would you rather pursue the temporary approval of the world, seeking wisdom and power, yet ultimately missing out on the Father’s eternal love?
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© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 