Feeling like a nobody? Great! You're hired!

 "As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” (Matthew 4:18-19, NRSVCE)

If Jesus calls fishermen to be his first disciples, that tells us something. And no, he did not stop there and call rich people from that point on. Instead, he continued with craftsmen and tax collectors. But why did Jesus do that? Certainly, it was not due to the lack of learned people. The group of the Pharisees (an ultra-orthodox Jewish group in Jesus' days) had many members, and even the Sadducees (the leading Jewish nobility) had considerable members. But no, Jesus wanted men from within society. He did not choose anyone due to their social status but despite it. 

God's (and thus also Jesus') message is one of a change of the heart. It does not matter if you drive a Benz or a tandem bike. Jesus is going to call you into his ministry because of what is going on in your inner world: mind, desires, ambitions, etc. A big paycheck does not qualify one to be a bishop. But don't get me wrong, bishops can be rich. This would be more of a correlation than causation, though. 

"So the last will be first, and the first will be last." (Matthew 20:16, NRSVCE) 

The interesting thing is that the people who one would think to be the best suited for the job of an apostle--the Pharisees and Sadducees--did not get called to be in Jesus' inner circle. In that sense, the first (in society) truly became last. But again, as much as no one gets called because of social status, no one gets rejected because of it. The Pharisees and Sadducees were simply not humble enough; they saw themselves as superiors. What Jesus needed was a group of people that would be grateful to receive a calling, not someone who almost expects to sit next to the Lord on Judgement Day. 

So, are you feeling like you are not worthy to be called a disciple of the Lord? Do you sometimes feel like there are others better suited for your calling? Do you see more of a fisher when looking into the mirror, rather than a scholar of the scriptures? If you said yes to any of these questions: GREAT! You already have what God wants and what is needed to be a good disciple: humility. Humble minds and hearts build the solid foundation that God can create beautiful palaces on. So please, when God calls you out of your boat the next time, trust that he knows exactly why he wants you.

Media Sources:
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