The significance of insignificance

It never ceases to amaze me that God chooses the insignificant, the unimportant ones to bring about his plans and purposes. Even in creation, out of all the 300 – 500 billion galaxies in our universe, each with countless stars and planets, God chose our insignificant galaxy, the Milky Way and placed our star the Sun out on one arm. Planet Earth is the third rock from the Sun incredibly insignificant compared to mighty Jupiter or fantastic Saturn. Yet on this beautiful blue and green rock reflecting the light of the Sun, God placed his creation including Man born in his image to reflect the light of his Son. Why this insignificant planet?

God loves to use the insignificant. In fact he often seems to prefer the least in families or society to be used the most. Joseph the eleventh son raised to be second to Pharaoh in Egypt and save his family and the nascent nation. Moses the younger son of Amram, so fearful he could hardly speak, was chosen to lead the Israelites out of captivity. Gideon, the least of the least was called to deliver Israel from the Midianites. David, eighth son of Jesse, called to be not just be king in Israel but to become a focal point of kingship in the nation that all other kings were compared to him. Solomon, not the oldest born of the ‘first wife’ but a minor son yet noted today for his wisdom, knowledge and the building of the most stunning temple ever.

Every one of them chosen by God not because of their looks, talents, abilities, position but because they would grow in trust and obedience to God. They would succeed and fulfil their destiny to save and lead nations.

The Christmas story is full of people of no apparent significance or prominence who have gained significance by being obedient to God’s call on their lives.  Mary and Joseph, a poor couple looking forward to being married were suddenly chosen to stand in the spotlight on the stage of world history. Shepherds, out in the fields doing their job, found themselves selected completely out of the blue to be the first visitors to the infant Jesus to signify God coming to earth for the poor and marginalised of society. 

In today’s celebrity crazy, instant fame society of ours, it can be easy to get caught up in seeking prominence to give us significance.  Significance in God’s eyes comes though in places with no prominence; those serving faithfully in the church, those helping the poor and weak of society in the city slums, those fighting for social justice or in the mission field far away from the glare of media and cameras often doing incredibly significant things with no prominence at all. 

 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 1 Corinthians 1: 27

Society seeks prominence and ten minutes of fame to applaud but God wants men, women and children of significance; significant because of obedience to his call on their lives. Mother Teresa gained prominence but I doubt if she particularly wanted it other than to draw attention to the plight of the poor in India.  For those poor people her life was very significant. 

I know we can long for prominence to bring assurance and worth to what we do but we have great significance even when we are hidden.  Fame and prominence are of little value even though highly prized by our societies. Significance through obedience whether we know about it or not is the prize of the Christian.

Significance not prominence

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. Luke 2:8

Looking today at the incredible birth of Jesus, we are overawed by the significance of this event – God becoming man in order to save the world from their sins.  The shepherds too must have realised this was a significant event though I am not at all sure they realised how significant. The heavenly host turning up in glory on their hillside, telling them of a Saviour born in Bethlehem and now lying in a manger, was a good clue though.

In today’s celebrity crazy, instant fame society of ours, it can be easy to get caught up in seeking prominence to give us significance.  Significance often comes though in places with no prominence; those helping the poor and weak of society in the city slums, those fighting for social justice and those in the mission field far away from the glare of media and cameras are often doing incredibly significant things with no prominence at all.

The Christmas story is full of people of no apparent significance or prominence who have gained significance by being obedient to God’s call on their lives.  Mary and Joseph, a poor couple looking forward to being married and having a life of their own in Nazareth are suddenly thrown into the spotlight on the stage of world history by the appearance of Gabriel. Shepherds, out in the fields doing their job, suddenly find themselves chosen to signify God coming to earth for the poor and marginalised of society again by the appearance of angels.

There must have been many unknown people who helped Mary and Joseph during their journey to Bethlehem and with the birth of Jesus – unknown to us but known to God. I am sure Mary, Joseph and God regard them as significant. 

Society seeks prominence and ten minutes of fame to applaud but God wants men, women and children of significance; significant because of obedience to his call on their lives. Mother Teresa gained prominence but I doubt if she particularly wanted it other than to draw attention to the plight of the poor in India.  For those poor people her life was very significant.

Frank Genor was an insignificant man who for 40 years handed out tracts on a street in Sydney, Australia in obedience to God to thank him for his salvation. He had no idea of the effect of this until just before his death when it transpired that literally hundreds of people had come to faith and were serving God all over the world, because of his obedience.

Has anyone ever come up to you to thank you for some kindness of word or deed that you have done that you have no recollection of but was very significant for them? That is the significance of great value to God; being obedient to his prompting to bless others. Fame and prominence are of little value even though highly prized by our societies. Significance through obedience whether we know about it or not is the prize of the Christian.