08/01/20 GOD CHOOSES THE ONES HE USES — Judges 7:4-7 (CSB) Then the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many troops. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. If I say to you, ‘This one can go with you,’ he can go. But if I say about anyone, ‘This one cannot go with you,’ he cannot go.” 5 So he brought the troops down to the water, and the Lord said to Gideon, “Separate everyone who laps water with his tongue like a dog. Do the same with everyone who kneels to drink.” 6 The number of those who lapped with their hands to their mouths was three hundred men, and all the rest of the troops knelt to drink water. 7 The Lord said to Gideon, “I will deliver you with the three hundred men who lapped and hand the Midianites over to you. But everyone else is to go home.”

I’ve heard Bible teachers and preachers try to explain why and how God chose the final 300 warriors. But I think that is precisely NOT what God wanted from Gideon or us. In the last part of v.5, the Lord basically tells Gideon, “I’m in charge here. I will choose exactly which ones can go and which ones cannot. There will be NO opportunity for questions or suggestions. Hope that’s OK with you!”

Over the years it seems to me that most church leaders, pastors and, especially, members of Nominating Committees mostly try to “fill empty slots with warm bodies” whenever there is a vacancy in their ministry teams. There is essentially NO thought given to the personalities, abilities and/or spiritual gifts especially suited (or especially unsuited) to the tasks involved. That oft-quoted maxim, “If you want something done, just ask a busy person…” translates into “Find someone who doesn’t know how to say ‘No’!” It could be that there is no longer any need for that ministry so that vacancy does not need to be filled! And, finally, what about evaluating the talents and gifts of your people and creating new ministries custom-made for their talents, abilities and gifts? Why not let GOD CHOOSE THOSE HE USES AND HOW TO USE THEM?!