Responsibility

by Matt

“When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.” – 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

As far as the Greeks were concerned, they were looking for eloquence. There were philosophers and “wise teachers” exerting influence among the Greek community. These eloquent voices seem to drown out the voice of Christ which happens to have lesser appeal at that time due to Paul’s non-eloquence. The situation at that time does not seem to have changed much. People today are still looking for eloquence; the more eloquent you are, the higher you will be rated. Sad to say, the opposite is also true. People and leaders alike are often looked-down upon because of their inability to express themselves in a manner that others would expect.

To summarize the above passage, Paul was saying that his lack of ability is matched by God’s ability; and actually, being “incapable” in the eyes of the world is better because the result would help people to see God better.

The lesson from this passage can be applied to different scenarios, I shall briefly put down just four of them:

1. It is cell time and you are supposed to teach, but you feel that you do not have it all together yet.

2. You are leading worship or involved in a band but you feel that you do not have enough practice.

3. You are to be up preaching next, but you do not feel that your sermon is complete.

4. You see a non-believer, and the only hinderance with you sharing the gospel is that you feel that you do not know enough.

To these four scenarios, Paul tells us to have courage. God is backing us up and He will fill in the blanks. So whether you are sharing the gospel with people, teaching in various groups or preaching to the masses; always let responsibility, instead of ability, drive you. Responsibility is to respond even in lack of ability. When we respond even in lack of ability, we will experience God.

Does human wisdom prevent you from experiencing God?

Let us align ourselves with God today.