On one particular occasion, one of my good friends invited us out to his property for an afternoon of mock combat. After suiting up, it was time to choose teams. We let the kids decide, and my middle son was elected team captain. Sides were quickly chosen, and it was time for the captains to pick individual team members. Would my son choose me for his team? Suddenly I was ten years old again in my mind, waiting to be chosen for a dodge ball team in grade school. That old feeling of dread began to seep in; I was hoping I wouldn't be chosen last. After all, I couldn't remember the last time I had actually won a paintball match.
It reminds me of the Biblical story in 1 Samuel. Chapter 16 talks about how God used Samuel to anoint a new king over Israel. As the story goes, Samuel visited Jesse and asked him to bring out all of his sons, such that the Lord might choose a new successor to the throne. God proceeds to reject each of the young men that Jesse brings out. Once this process was finished, Samuel asks him if there are any more children. Jesse then sheepishly volunteers his youngest son. He was embarrassed of him, but he did as Samuel commanded anyway and paraded him out in front of everyone.
Here is what 1 Samuel 16:11-12 says, "So he asked Jesse, 'Are these all the sons you have?' 'There is still the youngest,' Jesse answered. 'He is tending the sheep.' Samuel said, 'Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.' So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, 'Rise and anoint him; this is the one.'"
You see, God wasn't interested in those for whom the rest of the world looks upon as fit for duty. He wanted young David, a simple servant boy tending sheep. We know how history unfolds from there. David goes on to defeat Goliath, outsmart Saul, and become king of Israel. All of this from the one chosen last for the dodge ball team. Not a bad day's work for young David I would say.
Much later in the timeline of Scripture, Jesus decrees that "Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." (Mt 23:12).
David was in no position to exalt himself at the time Samuel came for him. He was little more than a child, and no one's first choice for king, at least by human standards. Once again, God's ways are different than ours. He uses the meek and the mild, the peaceful and the humble. We see this time and time again throughout the Bible.
So why is it so difficult to emulate this in our day to day life? In fact, it is often much harder for the churched to remain in a state of humble grace than the unchurched. I believe much of this has to do with "religion" properly speaking.
Let me explain. By referring here to religion, I am not talking about followers of Jesus or the born again and redeemed saints. But rather, I am talking about the method of subscribing to a set of laws and edicts that people think will bring them closer to holiness. They think that all they have to do is adhere to these strict rules and they will please God. It is the difference between people loving God humbly, versus people exalting themselves by following a rulebook. It is the difference between the arrogant Pharisee and the suffering servant. And 'religion' in this context, can unfortunately cause some folks to think that they are better than others. Likewise it can cause a perfectly good person to feel as though they are not good enough. It is a skewed (but common) way to view God's love.
The Bible says we are all made in the image of God. Every one of us has a portion, however muted or shelved away it may be, of the righteous creator inside us. And if we really understood this truth (I mean if we honestly did), then the world around us would hold human life so much more valuable than it currently does.
Then next time we lose our temper and yell at the person in front of us in traffic that is driving too slow, we might remember they are the son or daughter of God the Father, purchased at great cost by His son on the cross. This changes the way we think about each other, doesn't it? And well it should, because if we don't adopt this truth into our lives and our hearts, then what we are often left with is low self esteem, depression, and feelings of inadequacy.
"How can God possibly use me?", we might think to ourselves. He can and will use you.
"I'm not good enough or holy enough," we might say. Neither was David, Jonah, or a dozen other Bible characters. Yet God used them also.
The damage of rule-book driven religion and the resulting low self esteem can be lasting, and in some cases, I fear irreversible. It is tragic because it robs us of that Spiritual spark with which God has endowed each of us. The faster we realize that we are in fact good enough, the quicker we can get on to living the life that we were meant to live.
I am happy to report, that my middle son did choose me for his team that day on the paintball field. And I didn't have to wait until the final draft either. He simply looked at me and smiled ... he wanted his Dad with him during the heat of battle. I was happy to oblige.
Once the fight began, however, it wasn't long until I felt the familiar sting of colored paint against my body. I had been hit; one of the first casualties. It doesn't matter though, because in my son's eyes I was good enough to be part of his team anyway. Maybe I will prevail the next round. But either way, I am still on the team.
.
