Underqualified and Underestimated
Something that sticks out to me is how so often in the Bible, God uses the least expected to carry out His plans. It seems His favorite people to use for His work are the people who our society today would consider to be a “nobody.” The under qualified, the underestimated, and the inferior individuals who have nothing but faith. It may seem like God chooses some pretty impressive people, but Let’s take a look at the Bible and see.
David- 1 Samuel 17:41–49 41 And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. 42 And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.43 And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.” 45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”
48 When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.
Moses — Exodus 6:30 “But Moses said before the LORD, “Behold, I am unskilled in speech; how then will Pharaoh listen to me?”
Joshua- Joshua 6: 16–17, “ And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city. 17 And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction.
Those are just three individuals out of countless in the Bible. The fact is, God does not use qualified people, because there is not one who is qualified enough to do His work. Donna Krech once said, “God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called.” See, God simply uses those who are willing to put their faith in Him. God doesn’t need the strongest, smartest people to do His will. For His ways and His power are so much greater than even the greatest of mankind.
Have you ever heard people say “I’ll do God’s work after I’m more mature or ready?” or “after I have more practice, I’ll be good enough to do the Lord’s work?” the excuses go on and on. The point is God can use anybody at anytime. Jesus says in Matthew 17:20, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” If the faith of a mustard seed can move mountains, imagine what more faith can do.
By no means am I saying that we shouldn’t seek to be more mature, or learn more. Often people spend a good chunk of their lives waiting for God to direct them. It is a lot easier to direct a ship when it’s in motion than when it is stagnant. For as the saying goes, when you don’t know what to do, do something. God can and will direct our paths by opening and closing doors as he sees fit.
Status and role are a huge part of our culture today. Our society says that unless your popular, good at something, good looking, or “cool,” then you’re a nobody. As Christians we need to be very cautious and not find our worth in what culture says is important. I believe God likes using the less fortunate because they don’t have a chip on their shoulder. They know how society views them so they have nothing to lose and are sold out for the Lord and His work. I also think that He uses the least likely because He is able to shine through them, and everyone can see that it was a result of His power, not mans. This is important for us to remember especially today with all the immigrants and minority groups in our country today. While we as a society may view them as a burden and worthless, God sees worth in them.
So what’s your excuse? What’s holding you back from what God wants you to do? Is it that you think you’re bad at speaking? God showed that doesn’t matter in the account of Moses. Is it that it just doesn’t make sense? I am sure that’s how the Israelites felt when they were marching around Jericho. Can you imagine what it must have felt like? Just marching around, being mocked, probably having stuff thrown at you. Yet God proved He was faithful to those who had just a little faith in Him. Does is it seem like too big of a task? Well how do you think David felt? Is what God is calling you to do the same as David where the whole nation was at stake if the Lord did not show up and provide? Often we forget about the reality and weight of the circumstances in the Bible. These were real men and women who were much like us. These are the men and women who had faith and went against their culture and society. They weren’t afraid to accept God’s calling on their life even when it didn’t make sense.
We often put God in a box and think that He does not know what we are dealing with, or that He wouldn’t understand our fears. We forget that God knows all of our strengths and weaknesses, and knows exactly how to use us to further His kingdom, if only we would be willing and obedient.
So the next time that you feel under qualified for a job He might have for you, remember the God you are serving. Remember the stories of the Bible and who God chooses to use. Don’t forget that we are all under qualified and unless He shows up, we will all fail. For as Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.”
Work Cited
Esv: Study Bible : English Standard Version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles, 2007. Print.
Grunlan, S. (Ed). Christian Perspectives on Sociology. Reprint edition, Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Pub. 2001
