WHY WOULD GOD WANT ME?

Dr. Richard J. Henderson July 18, 2010

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Psalm 52
Luke 10: 38-42

Introduction

Several months ago when Washington was looking into health care reform they brought in experts from many different fields to help decide what would be the most effective system. Leaders in hospital service testified before congressional panels. Specialist doctors told what was most needed.

The best minds in healthcare coverage talked about what was needed to finance these changes. Some of the most experienced people testified; research was explored; the finest minds in this field were consulted. They studied what other countries have done in Europe and Asia. Experts in the field were asked to provide leadership in getting this done.

I

It's amazing how Jesus takes such a different approach. When Jesus wants to get the most important work in the world done, he doesn't call in the experts and the specialist he calls on ordinary people like you and me. When it comes to accomplishing God's will, helping people in need, and sharing the good news of Jesus, God trusts you and me to do it.

When God wanted to build churches right after Jesus' death and resurrection God didn't bring expert church developers, God called a Jew who was so anti-Christian that he hunted down and persecuted Christians, and sent him all through the Mediterranean to start up new churches. He had no experience developing churches.

When Jesus called the twelve apostles, he didn't search for the most talented communicators, the most highly organized people, or the people who had proven their leadership ability. Jesus chose a person who was disliked because he collected taxes, some guys who caught fish for a living, and other ordinary folks. Jesus didn't choose the best and the brightest - as far as we know the disciples were uneducated.

Among Jesus' followers were women, at least one of whom had a bad reputation. They had never followed and supported an itinerant preacher before. They had no job description.

II

Jesus chose people like you and me because he knows we have what it takes. Discipleship is not about being the brightest, the most educated, the most highly trained; it's about being faithful to the One you call Lord. We already have what we need - a solid relationship with God, a communication tool called prayer, the Bible, and a compassionate heart. Equipped with that, we can do the job.

God has given some of us particular skills that help us with our work: the person who is able to listen carefully and empathize, the person who can organize other people to work together and accomplish a task, the person with the gift of working with numbers, the one who is able to write clearly and communicate the word, the one gifted with time to serve food or deliver meals or drive someone to the doctor.

We are ordinary people who God has given specific gifts to use for the common good. The amazing thing is that for this important job, which must get done, God trusts you and me.

III

At various times in your life, people will come to you for help. They will need what you have - advice, physical help, another chance in life, someone to support them, an opportunity to learn from you. They may just need someone who cares.

Sometimes it might seem like this help is difficult. But in those times pray and ask God if this is a ministry that you are being given. Ask for God's help in responding to the person who needs you.

There may be someone in your life right now who, in specific ways, needs who you are. You may be the most effective person to respond to them because you know them, care about them, and they trust you. You may be more effective in talking with that person than the most brilliant expert because you know who they are and you have developed an important relationship with them.

IV

When God gives us work to do we never do alone. Even the hermit living on the side of a mountain relates to God and to all the rag-tag people of the Bible.

We don't just work alone, we serve together. Many of the functions we can't do well, other people excel at. So maybe we teach second grade Sunday school, but don't serve on the finance committee. Or we help with the soup kitchen but don't teach an adult class. God often draws us to the place where we can be most effective, whether being a Stephen Minister or caring for the Memorial Garden, helping with the food program or serving on building and grounds, planning a fellowship activity or being a table parent at LOGOS. We may not be experts or specialists, but we work together to complete what needs to be done.

V

Our scripture this morning is the story of Martha and Mary. They are just ordinary people. Usually when we look at this story, we celebrate Mary who sits at Jesus' feet and listens and learns from him. As someone who's preached that sermon more than once I know that the point comes when you have to ask yourself, "What would happen if Martha left her work in the kitchen and sat at Jesus' feet and listened too?"

Soon stomachs would be rumbling, and the people gathered there would start to wonder when lunch was going to be served. They would notice that no one is in the kitchen even starting to prepare food. Before long they would be distracted by their need to eat.

Plus, in the Middle East in Jesus' time hospitality was a serious requirement. To not offer hospitality to your guest was a major offense.

So maybe each of the sisters was serving with the gifts she had been given. Martha is busy providing hospitality, welcome, and good food. Mary sits and soaks in Jesus' teaching. Everyone there felt more welcome and was better able to respond to Jesus because Martha did her part.

Now maybe she overdid it: maybe she was preparing a gourmet feast when only fish sandwiches were needed, or maybe she was preparing a buffet for fifty when there were only nine people in the room.

Conclusion

In any case Martha and Mary serve. They are ordinary people and yet Jesus calls them as important people in his ministry. Surely Martha and Mary didn't think of themselves as any one special and yet they live on in the Christian church and even in our congregation. We learn from their common, but exceptionally important, lives.

God doesn't depend on the geniuses, the experts, or the most talented or highly trained people to accomplish God's work in the world. God depends on ordinary people like you and me. God entrusts this important work to our hands. God knows we can do it - with His help.

Amen

© Richard J. Henderson 2010