The apostle Paul wrote, “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27).
One of the characteristics of men and women is that of self-importance-it seems that everyone wants to be important. And thinking of themselves as being important, they began to carry themselves in a super-spiritual way, gloating over their importance to the work of God. But it is always a mistake; God does not need any of us. Sorry, if that makes you feel worthless, but it is true.
God has chosen to use us, but He does not have too. He could just as easily use someone else. You or I are not chosen because we are so wonderful, or because of our abilities and potential. God chose you and me because He chose to choose you and me. Important and proud people do not like to hear that. They are above being chosen. So they usually are not. God chooses by His grace, and for no other reason-and that is thrilling to me.
Having chosen us, He then equips us in many different ways, because there are different ministries within the body of Christ. Every person in the body of Christ has an important and vital place. Some of the ministries within the body are out in front for everyone to see. And because of the visibility of some, we are prone to think, “Oh, that is a very important ministry.” But that is not correct thinking, just because you are a part of the body of Christ that is in the background, does not make you any less important to God.
Maybe your particular ministry is sweeping the floors, or cooking the meals for families who have lost a loved one, and this list could go on and on. You may not be seen; you may not be out in front; and yet your ministry is extremely vital and important to the body of Christ. Without those in the background, those up front would be in serious trouble. All of us have our place and ministry within the church. God never intended that there be different kinds of spiritual levels established within the church. Spiritual hierarchies are set up, and ordained by man-not God!
God loves you as much as He loves anyone in the body of Christ, and God is extremely interested in the ministry that He has put you in. Heaven is going to be full of surprises. As you get to heaven and look around, the first thing that will surprise you is all of the people who are there that you thought were not going to make it. Then another surprise is going to be those who will receive the most rewards for what they did while they were on this earth. The Bible says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
God does not have important people. We should never consider ourselves more important to God than someone else. Paul wrote, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you” (Romans 12:3). The Bible tells us to consider others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3).
Paul wrote, “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you” (1 Corinthians 11:23). If we received all of our gifts from the Lord, and we use these gifts that God has given us to minister to other people, then how can we glory in what we have done, as though it was something of our genius, or of our brilliance or our abilities? When, in reality, whatever we have came from God. And if it came to us as a gift from God, then there is no way we can boast about it, as though it was something that we naturally possessed. If we recognize that it is not of us, but of God, and that it was given to us by God, then there is no way that we can go around proud and boastful, as though we are somebody special.
Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). And that is so true, apart from Him, we can do nothing that pleases God.
There is an old saying that says that all idols have feet of clay. The image that Nebuchadnezzar dreamed about had feet of iron and clay. And many people have been confused in their own spiritual walk because they held some person in such high esteem that they almost venerated the person who was exercising the gifts of God, rather than venerating God who gave the gifts to that person. Every person, at some time in their life, will stumble, and when the people that are looking up to that person see him or her stumble it usually devastates them.
God loves and uses ordinary people, and He endows each of us with spiritual gifts so that we can fulfill our place in the church (cf. Romans 12). We must remember that any abilities we have was given to us by God (1 Corinthians 4:7).
It is a mistake to put spiritual leaders on a pedestal. Look up to our Lord Jesus Christ-He alone is perfect.