07.13.01

There's a wonderful story about a Chicago investment bank which once asked for a letter of recommendation on a young Bostonian being considered for employment. His father, they wrote, was a Cabot, his mother was a Lowell; further back was a happy blend of Saltonstalls, Peabodys, and others of Boston's finest families. Their recommendation was given without hesitation.

Several days later, the Chicago bank sent an e-mail saying the information supplied was altogether inadequate. The message read: "We're not contemplating using the young man for breeding purposes, just some investment work."

If there was ever a man in the New Testament who had the right pedigree it was Saul of Taursus. He was "circumcised the eighth day [not an Ishmaelite or proselyte], of the stock of Israel [no proselytes among his ancestors], of the tribe of Benjamin [one of the two tribes who remained somewhat faithful to God, the tribe that gave Israel its first king and remained loyal to the royal line of David], a Hebrew of Hebrews [not a Hellenist, but one who spoke the Hebrew tongue and was educated in Jerusalem], concerning the law, a Pharisee" [one of the strictest sects concerning the keeping of the Law] (Philippians 3:5). Even with such an impressive pedigree God could not use Saul. It wasn’t until Saul humbled himself that God could use him for the great task at hand. This humility was expressed many years later in a letter written to a preacher by the name of Timothy. He wrote, "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life" (1 Timothy 1:12-16 NKJV). We know Saul by his Greek name, Paul, the apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Titles and honors and ancestry may be important in dealing with the worldly, but if we are going to be of use to God we must be willing to lay those aside and approach Him with a humble and contrite heart.