Ready or reluctant: what kind of servant are you?

God is always looking for ready and willing servants to help further his kingdom. Scripture gives us powerful examples of people whom the Lord chose for a specific task. Some responded with a list of excuses, while others stepped forward in obedience.

Moses was chosen by God to lead Israel out of slavery, yet when the Lord spoke to him at the burning bush, Moses said, “Who am I to lead anybody?” He may have been thinking about the time he killed an Egyptian and hid the body in the sand, assuming that made him unfit for God’s use. Moses continued to resist by telling God he was not eloquent and was “slow of speech.” But when you are chosen, you are chosen. Though the Lord was displeased with Moses’ excuses, he showed mercy by allowing Aaron to speak for him.

Gideon reacted in much the same way. When the angel of the Lord called him a mighty warrior, Gideon protested that his clan was the weakest in Manasseh and that he was the least in his family. Then he asked God for a sign — not once, but twice — placing a fleece before the Lord and requesting opposite results each morning. God again showed mercy and granted both requests.

Then there is Jonah, whose reluctance crossed into outright rebellion. Sent to preach to the people of Nineveh, he eventually obeyed and delivered God’s warning. The king and the people repented — yet Jonah was furious because he hated the Ninevites and did not want God’s mercy to reach them.

The New Testament gives us a different picture. When the apostle Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was struck blind for three days. Ananias obeyed God’s direction to lay hands on him, and Paul’s sight returned. He was baptized and immediately entered the ministry. If anyone had grounds for excuses, it was a former persecutor of Christians — yet he obeyed.

And of course our supreme example is Jesus himself, who said, “No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” Christ offered himself willingly for us.

Moses, Gideon and Jonah were reluctant servants. Paul, Ananias and Jesus were ready servants.

Which kind are you?

Ken Staley is pastor of Faith Church of Pleasant Grove at 9:30 a.m. and Harrisville Methodist Church at 11 a.m. Both are Global Methodist congregations. Text Ken at 918-852-9797.