Choosing weakness

God doesn’t choose as we do. Even a cursory glance at the human instruments He has used to accomplish His will confirms the truth of the Spirit’s word: “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world … and God hath chosen the weak things of the world … and [the] base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen” (I Corinthians 1:27-28). Note that it was His choice, not His only option! To have at your disposal only weak tools, and do the best you can with them, is one thing — but to choose weak tools is completely different!

But why choose weakness? Why choose the foolish, the weak, and the despised? The Spirit Himself answers: “That no flesh should glory in His presence … That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (I Corinthians 1:29-31). “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (II Corinthians 4:7). By choosing the weakest instruments available, God emphasizes His power. Regarding Elizabeth’s barrenness (Luke 1:7) Darby wrote: “It was according to the ways of God to accomplish His work of blessing while manifesting the weakness of the instrument which He was using” (The Man of Sorrows, Pickering and Inglis, page 10).

We understand that — but how hard to enjoy it! We want to be used by the Lord for our glory. We want to be praised for the sacrifices, the trials, and the hardships we endure. We want our brethren to marvel at our humility. We want to be remembered as powerful tools in God’s hands. We want to think that if we are humble, the Lord will make everyone honour us — if we suffer loss for Him, everyone will admire us for it. We want the Lord to accomplish His work of blessing while manifesting how useful we are in His work.

Yet we know, deep down, that for God to receive all the glory, I must be truly unnoticed! As John the Baptist said: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). It must happen — it is necessary! For God to be glorified, the vast majority of those who look on must marvel at my foolishness, my weakness, and my inappropriateness for the task at hand.

Do I really want that? Can I say “Amen” to the words of the Lord: “I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Matthew 11:25)? Or do I still cringe at the thought of being despised and unnoticed? Do I want the Lord to receive all the glory — or do I want a little part in it?

I know God chooses the weak and foolish — do I want Him to choose me? “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts” (Psalm 139:23).