by David Scott Robertson
When I was a kid, the neighborhood boys and I liked to play football. We’d get everybody together, elect two team captains, flip a coin to see which captain got to choose first, then they’d begin “choosing sides.”
I don’t know where you come from, but growing up in suburban Chicago, the people chosen first were the biggest, fastest, toughest, most talented athletes in the neighborhood. You see, if I were captain, I would want the biggest guys on my team so I wouldn’t have to face them on the field! Strongest to weakest was usually the order in which players were chosen. Why? Because each captain wanted to build the best team so they could win the game!
In our neighborhood, maybe even yours, the scrawny guy with thick glasses was a late pick when we were choosing sides. So was the chubby kid with ruddy cheeks and freckles. And of course the kid who was born with a crooked arm and a limp, he got defaulted to whichever team was unlucky enough to get the last draw.
The entire process was quite humiliating, especially the longer it went on. As young men, our fragile egos and tender self-esteem were steadily deflated the longer we were not chosen. In choosing sides, it became abundantly clear what other boys thought of your abilities (or lack thereof).
Right or wrong, psychologically damaging or not, this is how young boys growing up in Chicago in the 1970’s chose sides to play football.
Not much has changed in the last 30 years. This is still how much of our world operates today. Employers choose employees based on what value they think they can bring to the organization. Universities choose faculty based on their pedigree and scholarly achievements. Ah, but it’s professional sports that exploits the principle of “choosing sides” to its maximum.
Nowhere else on earth is the principle of choosing sides based on perceived worth quite as blatant as in the arena of pro sports. We see the players in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB promoted and traded like stocks. The televised drafts are a spectacle to behold. Man after man is rated, assigned a value, and acquired by a team. Talent scouts make the farm league circuit in search of the next super athlete. Lottery-size contracts and salary packages are awarded to the most gifted individuals thus further (and artificially) inflating their egos and self-esteem to match their celebrity status. Aging or weak players are eventually cut from the team. Choosing sides in pro sports happens so owners and franchises can build the best teams possible. Why? To win, of course!
Now, let’s turn our attention from how the world (not always, but typically) chooses sides to how God chooses sides.
Obviously, being God, He has an advantage in knowing which “players” to choose. He’s got inside information on the track record, performance rating, character flaws, and the actual (not estimated) potential of every single person He brings on to His team. So how does He do it? How does God “choose sides"?
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 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. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
Let’s look at one case study, one that I’m pretty familiar with…
* * *
RESUME OF DAVID S. ROBERTSON
CAREER OBJECTIVE: To develop an excellent and long-term relationship with God and return a 30-, 60-, or 100-fold return on His investment in me.
PERSONAL INFORMATION: Married (Monica, 18 years), father of one daughter (Abigail, 13), college graduate (MTSU), born in 1960, computer literate, hobbies include fitness training, biking, swimming and writing.
OTHER OUTSTANDING QUALITIES:
- Foolish
- Weak
- Lowly
- Despised
- Not much
REFERENCES: Available upon request
* * *
Years ago, I submitted my resume to God and was granted an interview! The interview took place in the summer of 1973 at an altar at an Assemblies of God church in Naperville, Illinois. The result? Did I get the job? Did God hire me? Did God want me to join His team? Did He choose me to be on His side?
I’m happy to report that I was hired on the spot!
Shortly after my interview, I began reading “letters of acceptance” written by representatives of God’s kingdom. These letters specified that I was…
- Chosen!
- Hired!
- On the team!
- Accepted!
- Anointed!
- Authorized!
- Appointed!
- Commissioned!
- Called!
- Sent!
The letters that gave me this “good news” are actually a collection of letters more commonly known as the “New Testament.”
I want you to know that I LOVE working for God! He pays so well! He offers great working conditions in a smoke-free environment! The benefits are excellent and the retirement package is without equal!
Presently I’m undergoing extensive OJT (On-the-Job-Training). I’m glad that God chose me to be on His side in spite of being eminently unqualified.
This thought today is for all readers who have for any reason ever felt “less than” or who struggle with self-esteem issues or you felt like you were near the bottom of the draw when others were “choosing sides.”
“Most gladly, therefore, I would rather boast about my weaknesses that the power of Christ may dwell in me” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
DSR
3/28/05