We'd all like to see more of God's power and wisdom show up in our lives, wouldn't we?

What if God gave each of us a remote control with two buttons on it? The first button would be labeled "God's power" and the second "God's wisdom." Whenever we got into trouble, we could just hit a button and our problem would be solved. 

What would it look like? Someone cuts you off in traffic. Just hit "God's power" button and zap! A lightning bolt smites their rear tire, making them careen off the road and come to a full stop in front of a Christian bookstore. 

Or, your "Christian" business partner cheats you out of your life savings. You hit the "God's wisdom" button and zap! A brilliant idea comes to mind how you can use a legal loophole to turn the tables on him so he has to sell everything he owns to pay you back. (You'll tithe 10 percent of course . . .)

Is that about right? Would being able to unleash God's power and wisdom at the drop of a hat ensure that we got what's rightfully ours? 

Clearly, no. If we think we're going to find the power and wisdom of God by being stronger than the next guy or smarter than the average bear, we're looking in the wrong places. Christ crucified -- His laying down of His own rights to buy back sinful humanity -- is the highest expression of God's power and wisdom  (I Corinthians 1:23-25).

If we want to unleash God's power and wisdom in our lives we don't need a remote control. We need to go to the cross and surrender our rights like Jesus did. 

The Corinthian church had to learn this lesson. They wanted and, to a certain extent, had wisdom and power. Paul writes to them, "You have been enriched in every way . . . in all your knowledge . . . you do not lack any spiritual gift" (I Cor. 1:5-7). The believers had some smarts and some ability. But they also had a problem. 

The way they were exercising their knowledge and gifts was causing trouble. The church was divided into cliques (I Cor. 1:12). They used their knowledge to justify sexual immorality (1 Cor. 5:1-2) and to cause their brothers and sisters to stumble in sin by eating meat sacrificed to idols (1 Cor. 8:1-13). They were using their legal rights to muscle in on their Christian brothers and sisters by suing them (I Cor. 6:1-8). It was a rollicking free-for-all, every believer for him- or herself. The power and wisdom they were demonstrating left people with devastated lives.

The Corinthians were proud of their displays of power and wisdom. But Paul was exasperated. He told them their approach was immature: "I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly -- mere infants in Christ" (I Cor. 3:1). Paul didn't want them to be satisfied with the power and wisdom of the world. He wanted them to have God's real power and wisdom in the cross. 

For Paul, to live in the power and wisdom of the cross was to surrender his own rights. He compared the "wise" and "powerful" Corinthians with himself and the other apostles: "Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings -- and that without us . . . we (apostles) are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it. When we are slandered, we answer kindly . . . I urge you to imitate me." (I Cor. 4:10-16).

Paul knew as an apostle of Christ, he had rights -- rights to eat and drink, to be married, and even to receive financial support from the Corinthians (I Cor. 9:4-12). But Paul surrendered his rights to demonstrate the power and wisdom of God in his life: "We (apostles) put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ" (I Cor. 9:12). 

The world's wisdom and power (where you bully, manipulate or outgun others) may look impressive, but don't be fooled. They won't satisfy, and they won't last. If you want to put the pow in your power, follow Paul. Follow Jesus. Go to the cross, surrender your rights and watch what God will do.