7.16.12 "Who's better?"

"Who's better?"

I Chronicles 22:1-23:32
Romans 3:9-31
Psalm 12:1-8
Proverbs 19:13-14

Pilots seem so serious, I can really appreciate the humor in something a friend sent me a while ago. It was funny things that stewardesses & pilots would say during announcements. One of them fits with today's DEVO:

"In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend
from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your
face. If you have a small child traveling with you, secure your mask
before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with more than one small
child, pick your favorite."

Have you ever felt like you're not the favorite?  Our minds can get real hung up on the value of self. 

First, Look at I Chron. 22. David decides where the temple is to be placed & begins gathering the materials. In verse 7-10 it says, "'I wanted to build it myself,' David said, 'but the Lord said not to do it..."but I will give you a son," he told me,..."He shall build my temple."'" 

So Solomon was better than David, right? You say "no," but he got to build the temple didn't he? David must have been less valuable to God, because God didn't want him to build the temple. Isn't that what our flesh thinks? 

Why is it that we attach personal value to position? I was thinking of it in the context of roles in the body of Christ. Even roles in a music department. Is a soloist more valuable than a person in the choir? Is a person in the choir more valuable than a person in the pew? OF COURSE NOT! yet, we allow those thought processes to enter our lives. 

In I Chron 23 David assigns structure to the Levites. they handle many tasks in the temple from assisting priests to custodial work. Each one of these positions is important to God. 

In Romans 3:9 Paul says, "Well, then, are we Jews better than others?" 

There is this natural tendency in man to be comparative. We must guard against this. Think about that parent on the plane. If the parent were to pick the "favorite", who's the bad guy in the story? the "favorite" kid? No. the parent. So connect this dot: If we assign personal worth to position, who is the "bad guy"? We need to realize the answer: it's God. If we're not happy with how he's assigned things, we need to remember that we need to take it up with him, not with those whom he's assigned.

Therefore, our tendency to place people in a "value" order diminishes the greatness of God. He has no favorites. He gives gifts and talents as he sees fit. Romans 3:30 says, "God treats us all the same; all, whether Jews or Gentiles..." David was a man after God's own heart, Yet it was Solomon who was to build the temple. Who's better than who?

By seeing ourselves as less valuable, we often slack off in our duties however humble they may be. Psalm 12:1 says, "Where in all the world can dependable men be found?" Can you be found dependable in whatever station you are in?

Rise to the occasion this day. Realize your value in God. Guard against thoughts of comparison which are based on pride and insecurity. 



Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

Pastor Greg Lathe

Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ