Title: God’s Unpopular Preference

Text: “God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are
wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.” (1 Corinthians
1:27)

To be qualified in any job, it is common for employers to ask for some qualifications. By
qualifications, it usually means good qualities that an applicant should possess. When you’re
looking for a job, you may find the following qualifications:

 College graduate of any course

 Has 2 years of experience
 Pleasing personality

It will be odd if you will find qualifications that say the opposite like:

 Poor educational background

 No experience at all
 Not attractive

But such is the nature of God’s preference. Our verse says: “God chose things the world
considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are
powerless to shame those who are powerful.” (1 Corinthians 1:27)

In our message for this day, we will learn that God prefers to use unpopular people for his
purpose so that no one could boast in His presence. We will also learn what does God wants to
communicate to us with this unpopular preference for the poor, the weak and the foolish.

1. God’s idea of greatness is different from ours. Different in what way? The Bible says, “For
my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.”
(Isaiah 55:8, NIV) When God declares that His thoughts are different than man’s, He means that
He perceive things differently. This is why we are surprised to find that the Bible teaches some
weird things like “non-retaliation”, “joy in suffering”, “servant leadership” which normally are
contradictory to the way things work in our world. This is true in His preferred qualifications for
prospective people in His purpose.

2. Our worth/value is not measured by who we are but by who he is. As indicated in the
characteristics of people that God usually employ, the worth/value of people is not based on
who they are, that is, good characteristics, intelligence, socio-economic status, et al. Instead,
the worth of the person is based on who God is – that is, what kind of God is God. God is the
God of beauty, the God of order, the God of greatness, the God of righteousness, the God of
love. And because He is this kind of God, it is only natural that His judgment is to be based not
on what we can do or what we have but on His characteristics as God.

3. God humbles those who exalts themselves. Another theme that is common in the Bible is
the way God exalts people. Many people believe consciously or unconsciously that power is to
be asserted. If you have prerogatives given by your position, or by your background, people
mistakenly think that it will apply to every area of their lives. That is why there are people who
appear to over-endorse or over-advertise themselves. During the days of Jesus Christ for
example, it was customary to have an order of seat when teachers and persons in authority
have to dine. The seating order indicates who is to be the greatest. The greatest of them all sits
in the primary seat, that is, the rear side of a rectangular table. According to Jesus Christ, we
should not seek this position but instead the lowest position so that when the master of the
house appeared, he will be the one to correct the misunderstanding. It will prevent you from
embarrassing yourself because of assuming a position that is not yours.

4. God exalts those who humbles themselves. The opposite of the latter point is also true.
Not only does God humbles those who exalts themselves, He also exalts those who humbles
themselves. Often in our society, we eagerly admire people who strive till they attain the peak of
the societal pyramid; seldom do we admire people who from the peak of their position, they
willingly give up their privileges to serve and help other people, to suffer with the weak, the poor
and the foolish. Instead of heroes, we call them “idiots”. However, we might not be thinking
about it carefully since the Lord himself did the same thing; leaving His privileges to serve us
who from God’s perspective are weak, powerless, poor and foolish. But look at what God the
Father did to Jesus Christ in which Philippians 2:5-11 says:

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the
form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by
taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every
name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under
the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Since Jesus Christ is the perfection of humanity, we cannot be mistaken if we will follow His
example. This is why Paul instructed the Philippians to have the same mindset as the Lord’s
mindset which is spelled out into six letters: H-U-M-B-L-E.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, we can be certain that it is God’s preference to use unpopular, common and even
insignificant people to accomplish His purpose. Do not underestimate what God can do through
your weakness, powerlessness, limitations, and even foolishness. Even a useless stone he can
transform into a great building so do not lose hope and trust in Him.

Application:

Consider the following actions for your application of this amazing truth:

 Let us examine our concept of greatness.

 Let us recognize that God is behind our good characteristics and abilities whether we
like it or not.
 Let us confess our tendency to please people over Him.
 Let us thank Him for basing His qualifications on His character instead on ours.
 Let us feel humbled and honored about the calling and capacities that we have received
and might receive from God.