“Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise.”
(1Cor 3:18 NIV)
wise is sophos. it means wise. it means wise in terms of able to make good, quick decisions in a specific area. Not wise as in attaining great intelligence or wise as in being very thoughtful and circumspect, but wise in terms of practical smarts. The very next verse tells you that God catches the wise in their own craftiness. In their own skill of what they decide on or what they do with their hands, God catches them in their sin. It almost goest back to chapter 2 and boasting in things. Don’t be wise in the eyes of the world or a good decision maker or good at something by your own skill, because God appears upon everyone that is good at something and desires to receive the glory for it. All skill and prowess comes from God. If you have great skill and great ability, you should become like one that is unskilled and weak, and give all of your glory to God.
Let no man boast or glory in man, for all things are from God. If you graduated from NYU or Ivy Tech or Harvard or if you bought your degree for $7.50 on the internet, do not boast in it. Boast in God who accomplishes all things and achieves all things.