If you are wanting to something great, a great project let’s say. The most obvious people you want would be the smartest, the best, the most influential, and more. But that isn’t always how life works.
Recently I was watching the story of the movie called “The Miracle.” It is when the US beat the Russians in hockey when the Russians were undefeated. The coach who chose the players is known NOT to have chosen the best hockey players. Instead, he chose the “right” players. It wasn’t who was most skilled in the sport, it was bigger than that.
The coach just followed what God has been doing for centuries.
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord” (1 Cor 1:26-31).
God chooses the right people for the job, and that did not mean influential. He chose those without title, wealth, power, or position to be the ones to carry his message and be the first to choose the Lord. There were exceptions for sure. Paul was one of them. He was the young, rising star and power among the Pharisees. Yet God chose him.
But generally speaking, God started off with the humble heart, not the heart in power and position. What he did was use the simple things to shame the wise, the learned, and the powerful. They came to the realization of the reality of Christ first. And their lives, choices, and the way they lived led the way.
In every way, this was Jesus. Jesus came from a poor family. He had no power or position. Yet he changed the world. It is the same with those disciples who would first follow him. Not just the 12 but the first move of believers.
Why was this? Why was it God’s plan?
Because if it had come to the powerful, the rich, the smart, and the beautiful first, it would not have been a gospel for all people. Man would have wanted to enforce that it was their way.
More importantly than that, God did not desire boasting. If the elite would have been the leaders, they would have boasted in their abilities. God’s heart that the only boast we would have is to boast in Him.
“Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” (v. 31).
We will see this even more later. Paul will go on to say that salvation is not by our good works, lest we boast in them before the Lord (Eph 2:8-9).
The only boast we have before God is Jesus Christ and him crucified.
That’s it.
We cannot claim that it is our works, intelligence, success, wisdom, or anything else.
Only Jesus.