NOT THE WISE, MIGHTY AND NOBLE
Samuel Brengle, an early Salvation Army official was once introduced as “the Great Dr. Brengle.” He later wrote in his diary, “If I appear great in their eyes, the Lord is most graciously helping me to see how absolutely nothing I am without Him, and helping me to keep little in my own eyes. He does use me. But I am so concerned that He uses me and that it is not of me the work is done. The axe cannot boast of the trees it has cut down. It could do nothing but for the woodsman. The woodsman made it, sharpened it, and used it. The moment he throws it aside, it becomes only an old iron. “O, that I may never lose sight of this!”
God delights in men who consider themselves the least among those who can accomplish anything for God. Such men turn out to be God’s favorites. The Bible is full of the account of these men. During the choice of Saul as the first king of Israel, Saul said with amazement “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin?…” I Samuel 9:21. David was the youngest of the sons of Jesse, yet God said unto Samuel “… Arise, anoint him: for this is
he.” This came after God had rejected the seven sons of Jesse that were more elderly. Paul, who is regarded as the greatest apostle that ever lived said this about himself “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecute -ed the church of God.” I Corinthians 15:9. The calling of God comes only to those who are nothing in their own eyes.
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: I Corinthians 1:26. If God is calling only those that are wise, mighty or noble, none of us would be qualified. That is why God delights in those who do not see themselves as being wise, but rather consider themselves as fools for God. Those who know they are weak (not sin) rather than mighty, and those despised among men not those who lean on their noble character. This is God’s requirements so “That no flesh should glory in his presence.” I Corinthians 1:29.
