There really wasn't much to say. He sat there cryin' his eyes out in the corner of the loud theater room at camp, and me and my friend just watched, not really knowing what to say. It seemed that the only appropriate thing to do was to ask him if he wanted to pray. He nodded and we walked outside to where we could get some silence and quiet.
George stood there with his head down and just kept bawling. And I'm not talking about some small sniffles and tears. He was crying with all that was in him to cry. To the point that extended past caring what anyone thought about his current condition. In fact, his tears kept him from fully explaining what it was that he was so emotional about. So we prayed. Me, my buddy, and George's leader prayed over George knowing relatively little about what was impacting him so much.
As the week went on at the evangelistic camp I was at, I got the opportunity to have lengthier conversations with George. My friend (who had prayed with me) told me that George was basically coming from a terrible situation at home and that George was being changed in a very good way.
Anyways, as I got to know George a little better, I come to find that he's a quirky guy who doesn't have the best social skills in the world. He's not the coolest guy, essentially. Now, there's a very important reason that I'm saying this, and I'm not doing it to make fun of him or tear him down. I found a huge mother load of sin in my heart as I thought about George:
I only think cool people can be used powerfully by God.
And as I realized how deep this thought was planted in my psyche, it saddened me to realize that this is the way most people look at the way Christ works. 'Cuz let's be honest. If most of us see a guy who is a great public speaker, very charismatic, and good at being a people person, we immediately think that person is called to ministry.
Now, I do not doubt that those can be gifts that believers have in Christ. In fact, I thoroughly believe it. But it seems to me that so often, we judge the effectiveness of the power of God by the personality of people.
When discussing the issue of following your calling, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1, "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. 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; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."
Paul continues, in the next chapter, to say, "And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom."
Or what about the disciple? They were the most rag-tag group of bozos anyone could find off of the streets. I might be wrong on this, but I believe that no one (other than Jesus) would look at the twelve disciples and think, "Hey, I have GOT to get these guys on my team." They were backstabbers, weak, fearful, kinda slow, and ultimately pretty foolish. Not exactly the guys you want representing you.
But Jesus, in his ultimate power and wisdom, uses the weak in order to show the world that His strength rests not in the abilities of people, but in the pure majesty of his ability to overcome weakness.
And if you're one of those guys who's sayin', "Hey, I'm a good speaker and a cool guy! Can God use me?"
Answer? Yes. And He'll conquer that pride, too.
There remains much more to be said, and many more passages of Scriptures that show this concept, but, ultimately, I just want us to realize that God doesn't need us or our talents. He might use them, but let's stop looking at people in regards to what we think God will use, and start seeking Him on what it means to know weakness.
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