He shamed me in front of 400 other people. Professor and academic dean in the Bible school I was attending, I had been in his office the day before; “Do you get flack from your denomination for attending this school rather than one of theirs?”, he asked. I told him that back in the day it might have been an issue, but no more. “And besides, I’m a nobody in my denomination, so they don’t care where I go to school anyway.” Next day, in an auditorium class of 400 students that I was enrolled in, he tells the class he recently had a student in his office who claimed to be “a nobody”. “That”, he declares, “was a display of false humility!”
It was hurtful. I felt misinterpreted and betrayed, but I checked my heart as best I could and came away concluding I had spoken from the heart. I am a nobody and I’m good with that. “Not many wise, mighty, or noble are called” (See: 1 Cor.1:26-31).
Heaven handpicks underdogs, no-names, lost causes and losers. In the biblical narratives babies are promised to barren women, offspring to old men, a destiny to folks from the wrong family, a fresh start for backsliders... It is not about human acumen. It’s about our God who can…through those who cant. No need to chant, “I am somebody”. Only remember God chooses the nobody. Jesus loves the nobody. Jesus who, “knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet …“ (John 13:3-5)
You could read of the life of King David in order to discover leadership traits, or the story of Jacob for success principles, but I hope you don’t. That’s not the point of these and other biblical narratives (and probably not good exegesis either, even if it does sell books.) When you read the biblical narratives as they are you come away concluding, for example, God can take the last in line, the baby in the family, and make him king. He can make a second-place, lying, deceiving cheat like Jacob the father of the patriarchs. With the least likely and the last he can be and do wonderful things.
That’s the salvation story…and that’s our bible. Not success principles and leadership traits, but this God who works through nobodies. In your nobody-ness you can be secure in this: you are somebody enough for God through Jesus.
There is only one hero in our bible and he’s not wearing a cape. He’s wrapped in a servant’s towel - the One who made us and washes us - the Somebody we find our identity in. St. Paul claims to be a big sinner, but authors much of the N.T. The twelve apostles were unlikely candidates with which to inaugurate the kingdom of God, but that may just be the point.
By the Spirit I am a nobody, at one with other nobodies who are at one with the Father and the Son. I’m good with that.