The Weak Things of This World

Everyone has heard at least one story of someone unexpected making a huge difference in this world.  The story that pops to my mind first is of a 21 year old girl who moved to Africa.  I can't recall her name or any specific details but I know the story and I want to share it with you.  After a brief missions trip to Africa, this girl could not get the homeless children she had seen out of her mind.  So she decided to do something about it.  She moved to Africa and adopted not one or two or even three children, but close to 20 children who were living on the streets.  Now, they all have a home, and she is "mama."  Because of her, these children will know the love of Christ and they have a future full of love and shelter.

1 Samuel 17:32-33 - 32 David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."  33 Then Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth."

From Day 1, no one expected David to be anything great.  He was the youngest of countless sons (not even 20) and his job was merely to tend to the sheep.  He wasn't even supposed to be near the battle, a novice at such things (Wesley).  But none of that stopped David. You see, God often uses the unexpected, the weak, the untalented to accomplish His goals.

The difference is our attitude.  David was willing and committed as we can see in verse 32.  You see, "a person with a [willing] attitude is like a bumblebee.  The bumblebee should not be able to fly, because the size, weight, and shape of its body in relationship to its wingspread makes flying aerodynamically impossible.  But the bumblebee, being ignorant of scientific theory, flies anyway and makes honey every day" (John Maxwell, Real Leadership, pg. 144).  David shouldn't have been able to take down Goliath, he shouldn't have even had the courage.  But David knew that God was on his side. 

And he was looking out for the good of the people, not himself.  No one else was even willing to attempt to fight with Goliath.  Because of this the Israelites seemed doomed for failure.  David knew that God didn't want His people to fail, so he stepped up to do what was for the best of the community, despite the fact that everyone told him he was going to fail or that he seemed the most unlikely candidate to defeat such a giant.

How often are we willing to look past ourselves and look out for the good of the church?  How often do we attempt the impossible, knowing that we shouldn't be able to accomplish such a task?  I am weak.  I'm not very talented.  I'm not any more special than anyone else I speak to throughout the week.  But God can use me!  After all, like David's story, "God often [does] great things for his people by the weak things of this world" (Wesley).

I challenge you today to let God use you!  No matter what your station in life, no matter your talents or abilities, God can use you if you are willing!  Don't let the world tell you you aren't good enough.  Those are lies!  The truth is that we can ALL be used be God...again, if only we will let Him.