Jesus clearly did not follow the first rule of leadership - gather competent, intelligent, and visionary people around you to be key leaders in your organization. In Luke 6:12-16, Jesus chose his Twelve - the men who would be the key leaders of the church he came to establish.
Among the Twelve there were no rich, powerful men. There was one tax collector, but no one liked them There were no academics, none of the intelligentsia. There were fishermen. Stinky, grungy fishermen. There were none of the nobility, the upper crust. These were Galilean peasants, a political rabble-rouser or two, and absolutely no one who was powerful, talented or capable. By every human measure Jesus made a huge mistake when he chose the Twelve.
But that says a lot about the Kingdom of God. The work of the Kingdom is not about the ability of those who serve the King, but the ability of the King himself. Jesus did not choose his key leaders based on what they could do for him but based on what he planned to do through them.
The Twelve demonstrated throughout the earthly ministry of Jesus that they did not have what it took to be great Kingdom leaders. At every turn they misunderstood Jesus, failing to grasp his purposes, the principles of servant leadership or his relentless march to the Cross.
It was not until 50 days later, when they were praying in the Upper Room that the Spirit filled them and transformed them. These talent-limited social rejects turned the world upside down in the name of the Savior who chose them. And throughout it all it was clear that the reason for their success had nothing to do with the leadership abilities or talents. It was all about Jesus and the fullness of the Spirit.
This is good news for us. God chooses ordinary, normal folks to do his extraordinary work. He does through us what we could never do in and of ourselves. In fact, it is when we realize our own incapacity that we can begin to walk in the power of God.
It was no accident that God chose average (perhaps below-average?) people to be the pillars of his church. They would depend on him and give him glory. We must do the same. We need not be rich, beautiful, talented or creative to serve the Lord. We just need to be obedient. Faithful. Willing. Submissive. Devoted. Regardless of who we are, what we have or what we can do, we can be significant servants of Jesus Christ when we realize it is not about us and it is all about him! What he has! What he can do! Who he is!
Father, I have nothing to offer you except my body as a living sacrifice. It is you strength I need, not my own. It is your ability, not mine that matters. Use me, Lord.
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