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A Pre-req for greatness
If you want to be used by God in a significant way, then you must let your hurt be recorded.
Have you ever noticed as you read through the Bible that rarely, if ever, do you come across a character that does amazing things for the kingdom of God, without his/her flaws being revealed at the same time? Think about it for a moment and take a look at some of the major players:
Adam – the first man and pride of God, was a blame shifter who couldn’t resist peer pressure. (Genesis 3:12)
Noah – the last righteous man on earth, got drunk and exposed himself. (Genesis 9:20-21)
Abraham – the forefather of faith, let other men walk off with his wife on two different occasions and slept with his maidservant. (Genesis 12 and 20)
Job – considered a servant of God, lost his temper with his friends and his God and despised the day he was born. (Job 2:9)
Isaac – the promised son of Abraham, carried on the family flaw of favoritism and deception. (Genesis 26)
Jacob – who out-wrestled God and earned the name Israel , was pretty much a pathological deceiver. (Genesis 25, 27, 30)
Moses – the humblest man on the face of the earth (Numbers 12:13), had a very serious problem with his temper. (Exodus 2, 32:19; Numbers 20:11)
Samson – who had He-man like strength and defended his people from the enemy, was lured by lust and pride into his own demise. (Judges 16)
David – noted as a man after God’s own heart, concealed his adultery with a murder. (2 Samuel 11)
Solomon – the wisest man in the world, couldn’t find fulfillment and was arguably the world’s greatest sex addict with 1,000 sexual partners. (1 Kings 11)
The prophets – even as they spoke for God, struggled with impurity, depression, unfaithful spouses and broken families, fear, whining and disobedience.
Peter – was the rock on which Christ would build his church, but was too impulsive and denied Jesus in his deepest need.
Paul – who wrote most of the New Testament letters and spread the good news to the gentile world, was an over-zealous Pharisee who saw to the murder of Christians before he became one.
It is not only a theme, but it seems to be a prerequisite that anyone who does awesome things for God must also have the dark side of their lives revealed. But that is what the spot light does right. While it highlights your successes, it also exposes your blemishes.
At some level, it is necessary for your weakness to show through in order for God’s grace to be revealed in you. The recordings of the Scriptures make a clear statement that no one is perfect except for Jesus and it is their imperfections not their great works that draw us to them and at the same time point to a great God. The writers of these stories could have left out the dreary details of their lives and left them in hero status, but they were very intentional about showing the shortcomings of the saints. They were not as concerned with preserving the dignity of these key players as they were with showing the greatness of their deity.
For most of my life, I have tried my hardest only to let my good show. It’s not that I shouldn’t strive for perfection, but I have intentionally concealed the dark parts of me for fear that it would somehow hinder my witness. However, I am finding that as I share the darker parts of me with others that it actually helps people see The Light better. I am not proud of those dark things, but my flaws accentuate God’s grace and allow other people to see it better.
I’m starting to care less about me looking good and more about God being glorious.
7 comments on “A Pre-req for greatness”
Amen! So good Corey!
thanks for the encouragement Heather.
This is amazing! And it helps me learn more about the Bible.
Thank you for all you do, Corey….
Amen! God uses broken vessels that are surrendered to him! Thank you for the encouragement!
Interesting thoughts. In modern times many church leaders doing great things are devastated when the dark parts of them are expose. In every case it’s also from them devastating the lives of others, so I’m really not inclined to see them just use someone else’s trust or faith as a stepping stone or an “ops” in their life on the path of doing “great things.”
I don’t agree that you should be an open book to everyone you meet if that is what you are saying. All the great things of the people you mentioned were conditions leading to Christ’s coming and sacrifice and establishing His church. But during the time when they were alive how many people actually knew about those struggles or sins? (Besides the people affected by it) The only great things left for humankind now since Christ’s sacrifice is to love God and love people after accepting his son. There shouldn’t be a spotlight on anyone. If the environment for showing your dark isn’t healthy than advise like this could be more devastating than helpful. It can open people up for more manipulation, exploitation or unhealthy control from unhealthy people or leaders around them. I also unsure about your opening statement. “If you want to be used by God in a significant way, then you must let your hurt be recorded.” It implies that God’s desire to use someone is contingent on them opening the broken parts of their lives up to everyone. That seems out of context for who God is to me.
Love God, love people and that will significantly impact the people around you. There will be times He leads you to share parts of your brokenness to build his Kingdom, but your life shouldn’t be an open book like the characters in the Bible who are dead and do not have to deal with other people in their brokenness. I understand the intent of encouraging people to not have hidden areas in their life where shame is the rudder that steers the ship, but being in a spotlight, excusing the hurt someone causes others because “no one is perfect” or God needed you to spill your guts to everyone you meet in order to be used significantly by Him I just don’t agree with.
Hey Boomer, thank you for your insights. I definitely concur that there are wise times to share the junk in your life. Not every group or person is a safe place to share. And, not everyone needs to know everything that has gone on in your life. However, more often than not, we hold in our darkness for reasons of pride and shame than we do for wisdom.
When I wrote this article I had 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 in view – “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Sharing what remains hidden is simply a deeper acknowledgement of grace. Yes, when we bring stuff to light it has the ability to devastate, but only apart from an understanding of grace. Our confessions point to One who is big enough to handle our darkness and extend not only his love but include us in His purpose.
Corey – Yes and I apologize for coming off so negative. I should never attempt discussion before my 3rd cup of coffee and second muffin. (high maintenance) I listened to your message on the subject and framed it better. I saw this through the lens of my own experiences as I read and I overreacted. I think you are a really good teacher and sorry this came off as trying to discredit something you were trying to impart to folks around you. Wasn’t my intention. Thank you for the reply and admire how honest you are with your life to those around you. All the best.