I have always loved the underdog. When the Cubs stood on the cusp of their first World Series in 108 years, I suddenly cared about baseball. When I read scripture, I often feel like the underdog gets a bad rap.
Those ten unprepared virgins. Silly little girls. Could not even have oil in their lamps when they KNEW there was going to be a wedding. What about that time I knew I was having houseguests and somehow did not have enough pillows. Seriously? Who does not have guest pillows? And the poor guy who buried his talent. Oh man does he get reamed when the boss got back! But what about my fears? My insecurities? My what ifs?
What if I try and look silly? What if I am ready to reap the harvest, but no one will go with me? What if others disagree with how God called me? What if I get the wrong oil for the lamps? Maybe safer to just be quiet. Maybe better to wait and see what others have in their lamps. Don’t want to stand out.
Oh, if it were only about guest pillows. Wal-Mart is only four minutes away.
But it’s not. It’s about being poured out for others. Broken open so we can share our oil, water, food, clothes, pillows. Surrendered in Christ enough to see past our own brokenness to the brokenness of others so we will even know they need the oil, water, food, clothes, and guest pillows.
Surrender. It is the answer to our brokenness. Surrender is the way God uses us to answer the brokenness of others.
3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.