Happy New Year, everyone!  

During the course of our lives, we’ve all read about (or even know), people who strive to be rich, or powerful, or important. And sadly, even a few leaders in the church have fallen into this trap. But my reading of the Bible informs me that God sees us differently. He is not impressed with our money accumulation or self-importance. To prove it, He uses the old, the young, the poor to further His Kingdom.

The old:

“Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, ‘Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old?  Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?’ “[Genesis 17:17]

God’s answer, to both questions, was Isaac.

God will also use the young, as when Samuel anointed David, one of eight sons of Jesse:

“So he asked Jesse, ‘Are these all the sons you have?’

 ‘There is still the youngest.’ Jesse answered, ‘but he is tending the sheep.’

 Samuel said, ‘Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.’

Then the  LORD said, ‘Rise and anoint him; he is the one.’ “[I Samuel 16:11,12c]

He can even use the poor:

“But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything–all she had to live on.’ “[Mark 12:41-43]

And here is one clear proof regarding how God looks at us:

“…The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” [I Samuel 16:b]  

So, are you feeling too old, too young in the faith, too poor, or even too insignificant to help advance the Kingdom? Sounds like just the sort of candidate that God is looking for. And today, all you have to do is to ask for your assignment.

 Tomorrow? Same thing.

Blessings, 

–Keith