Wouldn't it be great if LeBron James got saved. Or Taylor Swift. Or Tom Brady. Or Bill Gates. Somehow, it makes us feel better when the rich, the famous, the talented or the powerful come to Christ. And it would be great.
But it is not the way that the kingdom of God works. Yes, God has saved some important people - politicians, celebrities, athletes, businessmen - and has used them in his work. But that is not his usual mode of operation.
He is a redeemer, not a talent scout. God does not go looking for the best and the brightest who can do great things to help him. God selects ordinary people and does extraordinary things through them - by his grace and for his glory.
In one of my favorite passages of Scripture, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, and it spells out exactly who God chooses for his kingdom, and why.
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
It was really not a great compliment to the Corinthians, but it is an important point. Not many among them were highly educated or intelligent. God wasn't looking for college professors to populate his kingdom. Not many were powerful. God has all the power the kingdom needs and ours is irrelevant to him. God did not choose many among the nobility. Human distinctions tend to lead to pride and that hinders the work of God.
No, God chose the foolish things to make the smart look stupid. He chose what is weak so that he could demonstrate his power through them. He chose that which the world disdains as insignificant and used them to bring the rich and influential to their knees.
He states his reasons for doing things this way; two reasons that are actually two sides of the same coin. God works so that the redeemed are left with absolutely no reason to boast. I am nothing without my Savior - he is everything. I can be only that which he makes me and do only that which he empowers. It all comes from God and he deserve the praise.
Oh, but we do boast! The redeemed boast in Christ and about Christ. It borders on the blasphemous for me to boast in myself, but it is also wrong to fail to brag on the amazing work of Christ's grace.
The kingdom of God is not about us, our talents, abilities and efforts. It is about God and what he can do in us and through us.
Father, it is all about your Son! He paid for my sins and gave me life. You chose me for your glory, to doing your work in me. For that I praise you today.
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