Feeling Helpless
Most Christians, at one point of their lives, experienced the feeling of being helpless and insignificant. God’s prophets also experienced such feelings. For example, Abraham was an old man who couldn’t have kids. Joseph was a slave prisoner. David was a shepherd boy. Amos was a fig picker. Peter was a fisherman. Even Jesus was a poor carpenter.
In spite of the human limitations the Lord uses His children to do great works. “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
Paul is emphasizing the thought that God is in no way indebted to human skill or learning for the accomplishment of His purpose in the redemption of men. Humble, fully surrendered instruments are used by the Lord to show how vain and impotent are those who trust in worldly rank, power, and learning. And that no class of men, whether rich or poor, high or low, learned or ignorant, has any ground for boasting before God (Ephesians 2:9).
In the establishment of His church, God did not take counsel of the wisdom, wealth, or power of this world. He seeks to win all classes, but the so-called wisdom of this world leads men often to exalt themselves rather than to humble themselves before God.
The Jews were astonished by the wisdom of Jesus, and asked, “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?” (John 7:15). They could not understand how anyone who did not attend the schools of the rabbis could appreciate spiritual truth. The same situation still obtains today. The value attached to a man’s teaching is often calculated simply by the amount of formal education he has had. True education is that which makes the Word of God central and all-important. But one who has obtained such an education will be humble, meek, and wholly surrendered to the leading of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 11:25).
Unity With Christ
It is union with Christ that makes the helpless Christians strong and wise. They do not attain high position, wealth, honor, or power of themselves. God, through Jesus Christ, supplies all things. Even though men do not recognize the fact, nevertheless all the good things of life that they possess are made available by Christ. Everything necessary to rescue men from the degradation into which they have sunk as the result of sin is found in Jesus, who is the “fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).
As men abide in Christ (John 15:4), Christ dwells in their hearts and they become partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). Their minds become obedient to the will of God (1 John 5:14). People receive Christ by receiving His word. As they daily feed upon that Word (John 6:53) and pray, this will enlighten their minds and they will be able to walk in obedience to it principles through the enabling power of Christ (Colossians 1:27).
Through Jesus, believers become wise, righteous, holy, happy and redeemed. The wonder of the love and wisdom of God, revealed in Christ, is an inexhaustible source of praise and rejoicing, before which all human wisdom and achievements fade into total insignificance. So, when feeling helpless and insignificant, look at Jesus and your thinking will be fashioned unto His (2 Corinthians 3:18).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
