Petula Dvorak, writing for The Washington Post last week asked the question, "What do you think kids want most in life today? Money? Marriage? Adventure? A cool job? Spiritual fulfillment?" The answer is "none of the above." Utilizing a study from the University of California, Dvorak noted that what kids want more than anything else is fame. Yes, fame. This shouldn't be a surprise. We live in an age where 15 minutes of fame are a dime a dozen. Never in human history has it been so easy to be known by so many.
How does Christianity address this lust for fame?
In 1 Corinthians 1, Paul addressed a church of unremarkable people. "For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth" (1:26). Paul makes this observation to prove that Christianity is not dependent upon human wisdom or power but upon the wisdom and power of God (see 1:18-25)--the Cross.
Ironically, in God's eyes the Corinthians were now anything but unremarkable. They had the remarkable privilege of being recipients of grace (1:4); enriched in Christ (1:5); not lacking any spiritual gift (1:7); guiltess (1:8); and part of the fellowship of Christ (1:9). But all of these salvation riches came because of the wisdom and power of the Cross and not because of their own, inherent worthiness.
By emphasizing the humble state of these believers Paul made the point that unremarkable saints are unique trophies of God's grace. In other words, it is most obvious that God is the source of profound change in our lives when there is nothing in our lives to explain the profound change. This is a theme found throughout the Scriptures. Abram was an unknown resident from the land of Ur until God called him. Jacob had nothing to commend himself to God. Moses was found wanting in leadership skills. Ruth was a Moabite. David a shepherd . . . you get the point. So it was for the Corinthians, "not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth."
Paul does not say that every convert in Corinth was unremarkable! "Not many" he repeats three times. Obviously God saves people who are remarkable in the eyes of the world. Nonetheless, God's penchant for choosing the least to enter the Kingdom of Heaven plus Jesus' commendation of the meek and poor in spirit, plus Paul's point right here in 1 Cor. 1:26 leads me to the following three points of application.
First, strive to be unremarkable.
By all means, be aware of the skills and gifts that God has given you and use them to the fullest of your ability. But strive to use these gifts without drawing undue attention to yourself. Remember the exhortation in 1 Thessalonians 4:11, "aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands." And notice Proverbs 25:6-7, "Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, 'Come up here,' than to be put lower in the presence of a noble." These statements fit well with the humble tenor of the Christian life.
Very practically, consider how you dress. Is it your goal to be cool or even sexy? If so, your interest is unhelpfully geared to meeting the standards set by the world. Second, consider how you speak about your work. Are you trying to draw attention to your own accomplishments? This is self-glorifying behavior. Finally, consider whether you take a genuine interest in others. When you enter into a conversation, are you simply waiting for your friends to ask about you, how or what you are doing? Or are you eager to know how they are doing, what is going on in their life, and how you can serve them?
Second, look out for the unremarkable.
Let me first apply this to my own life, as a pastor. I believe that the estimation (that is, the value) of a pastor is not how he treats the elite, but how he treats the obscure, the unremarkable. Many years ago, a Christian wisely noted, "When a minister is not only willing to preach in great assemblies, but also to small; when he habitually instructs his people in spiritual things at their firesides; when he often enters the dwelling of the poor and obscure to warn or console . . . then he is a good pastor." I think this is true.
I pastor in Sandy Springs, GA, one of the wealthiest cities in the country. Part of my stewardship of this congregation, and part of our stewardship as a congregation, is to bring the Gospel to the business leaders that live in our community. But what about the apartment complexes down the road? What about the immigrants in our neighborhood? Gospel faithfulness would have us remember that unremarkable saints are unique trophies of God's grace.
Very practically, consider the people you approach on a weekly basis. First, visit the homebound. Here are individuals that society says have very little to offer. The Gospel would have us care for them. Second, minister to the elderly in our neighborhoods and in our congregation. Society would say their day is passed. The Gospel would have us honor them. Third, remember the children in our congregations. When they pass by, drop down to greet them and offer a word of encouragement. Better yet, devote a few Sundays each year to serving them in nursery. Fourth, initiate with the quiet in the congregation; those least likely to make conversation. Speak to them out of love for them, and a genuine desire to get to know them.
Third, praise the unremarkable Savior.
Paul told the believers in Corinth, "not many of you were wise according to wordly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth." His statement reminds me a lot of Isaiah 53:2-3, "He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not."
In every earthly sense, Jesus was unremarkable.
That's my Lord, Savior of the unremarkables. Praise Him!