A Lesson from Luther

Mike Johnson

Luther was quite slow from a mental standpoint.  He was well-liked in the community, and it was easy to get along with him.  However, some of the young men in the neighborhood could not resist having some fun with him from time to time.  At the little store where the guys always “hung out,” they would play a little game with Luther.  They would say, “Luther, here is a dime and a nickel.  Which one do you want?”  Luther would always choose the nickel, which was, of course, the largest coin in size.  At this point, the boys would all get a big laugh.

A few years later, one of the young men who had moved away returned to his hometown for a visit.  Eventually, he made his way to the little store.  He saw Luther at a distance and asked someone if people still played the game with Luther and if he always chose the nickel.  They told him that people still played the game with him from time to time, and “Yes, Luther still always chose the nickel.”  The young man then called Luther over and played the game, and, as usual, Luther chose the nickel.  However, the young man felt a little bad about it this time (maybe he had matured some), so he explained things to Luther.  “A dime,” he said, “is smaller than a nickel but is more valuable.  A dime is worth ten cents, while a nickel is only five cents.   So you  should  always choose the dime.”  Luther looked at the man earnestly and said, “I know that, but if I choose the dime, they will stop doing it.

The boys thought they were so clever and that Luther was so dumb.  Who showed a lack of intelligence?  It certainly was not Luther.  He was getting the nickels and was more intelligent than they thought.

The story about Luther illustrates a fundamental principle.  It teaches that things are not always as they appear.  A person, an idea, or a concept may seem unintelligent and useless to some.  However, a person’s view is not correct simply because he thinks it is an accurate or enlightened view.

Many people today view preaching and God’s Word as foolishness and a complete waste of time.  They may not even believe in God.  These people may also think of religion as a crutch and Christians as ignorant and unenlightened while thinking of themselves as intelligent and enlightened.  Many may not express these ideas, but they show their belief in them throughout their lives.  They have little interest in spiritual things but instead serve such things as pleasure, lust, riches, and greed.

Some people were like this in Paul’s day.  They thought of themselves as wise and thought of preaching as foolish.  1 Corinthians 1:18 says, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”  In verse 21, he said, “. . . it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”  The “foolishness of preaching,” as it is called, is the source of salvation.  Paul came to them with the straightforward message of “Christ crucified” (vs. 23).  Yet, Paul said the world by its wisdom knew not God (vs. 21).

Some in Paul’s day saw the value of preaching and obeyed God.    I Corinthians 1:18b says this about preaching, “. . . but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”  Those people saw where true wisdom existed.  While others saw preaching as foolishness, they saw it for what it was:  the power of God for salvation.

Let us not think of God’s Word as valueless and useless as some people do.  On the contrary, we need to see God’s Word for what it is.   It is essential; it is the wisdom of God.  Romans 1:16 says that it is the power of God unto salvation.  James 1:21 says, “. . . receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

How do you regard God’s Word?  The way you respond to it will determine where you will dwell eternally.  One day the Judgment will occur, and then it will be apparent to all that God’s Holy Word is not foolishness but the power of God unto salvation.  If you view God’s Word as foolish, think of Luther.  Remember, things are not always as they first appear.