The Best is Not Always Better

I don’t recall ever being the best when growing up.  Only after the more skilled were first picked did I get picked.  Obviously not everyone can be the best, so the fact is, the rest of us will end up farther down the line.  Like everyone else, that often made me feel bad but I came to accept that when God passed out skill sets, I wasn’t first in line.  Nevertheless, perhaps because of my personality I’ve always tried to try hard to do what I was capable of doing.

As life progressed, I’ve often wondered why God chose to use me in spite of the fact so many others were more gifted or skilled at music, leading youth, preaching or whatever else He assigned me to do.  This has perhaps never been more true than when elected to fulfill my current assignment, especially at my age!

A story in the Bible that touches on this issue and has intrigued me for decades is the one found in 2 Samuel 18:19-31.  The back story is King David’s son had become embittered against his father and successfully initiated a coup.  David took his family and loyal servants out of town as Absalom, his son, came into the capital city of Jerusalem.  David escaped into the neighboring country as a fugitive or refugee.  Absalom decided to go to chase down and kill his father, David.  An ugly battle ensued with many being killed, including Absalom.  Here was the intriguing part for me.  Joab, David’s army general, was told the game-changing news of Absalom’s death so his next step was to send a young man to run and tell David the news.

A young man Ahimaaz, had a reputation of being the fastest runner for such assignments.  Being a loyal subject of David, he was available to run and tell David the news.  In fact, he even offered to do so.  However, Joab essentially ignored his offer and chose a slower ‘runner’ to carry the news.

Imagine how Ahimaaz felt when his offer was ignored when he knew he was the best choice for this task!!  Now imagine how the unnamed young man felt who was chosen to bear the big news!!  Why me, right?  But my guess is that this young man ran as hard as he could with what would have meant in practice ‘the long, bloody battle is finally over’!  The crazy part of the story is, Ahimaaz pestered Joab so much about wanting to run, Joab finally told him to run and run he did!  In fact, he out ran the young man who had the big news!!

Here is my point.  Like Joab, God doesn’t always choose the most talented or best endowed.  Frankly, that has confused me.  But it has also given me a great deal of encouragement!  It is humbling for me to know others can and will do better than I yet I have the assignment.  I often wonder how those more gifted than I see or think of me when I perform below their standard.  What has encouraged and comforted me when I sense their strange looks or words is to know God has chosen me for reasons known only to Him.  I must accept and honor His choice by given Him my very best.  I’ve learned not being as skilled as others is not valid justification for refusing whatever God has called me or any other person to do.  So even if we aren’t the best, let’s give our best in whatever we are called to do.

 

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