Dear readers, today it’s with great pleasure I introduce Bob Stewart, a Husband, Father, Man of God, and writer. Today’s post is courtesy of Bob and is entitled:
“Who’s Not Capable?”
Have you ever felt you didn’t have the skills, background, character, or even physical traits to be a leader? Have people assumed you don’t have what it takes to lead without even giving you a chance to see what you can do?
God oftentimes in the Bible used the least likely character to be a leader. One leader in particular was one of the judges – Ehud. God would bring up “judges” or military leaders every time the Children of Israel needed a leader.
So one time God brought up a leader to deliver the Israelites from the Moabites. He brought up Ehud – a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin (Judges 3:12-30).
Being left-handed meant one of three things in the Middle East during that time. You were either: 1) slow or stupid, 2) unclean, as left was considered the “restroom cleaning” hand, or 3) evil-minded. Either way, it wasn’t positive.
And the tribe of Benjamin was considered the “low man on the totem pole,” as Benjamin was the youngest son of Jacob. The tribe of Benjamin also had a strong occurrence of left-handed members.
So all was against him going into this opportunity. However, God chose Ehud for a purpose. He was to kill the mighty King Eglon and lead Israel out of the Moabite control.
Ehud’s sword was strapped to the opposite side of his body, so the Moabite King didn’t notice the sword. He thought Ehud was a safe person to meet with him. But Ehud was able to kill King Eglon with the sword in his left hand and free the Israelites.
What does that have to do with us today? Many a time we believe we don’t have what it takes to be a leader when given an opportunity. We have traits that may be perceived as weaknesses, but God can use them as strengths!
I have shared that story over and over with my younger son, as he is smaller than everyone else in his class and is left-handed. Kids used to make fun of him for writing differently in school. I told him this story, and he was so amazed!
Now he considers being left-handed a bonus – a gift from God. And he connects more with me, because I am left-handed as well.
Have you ever felt totally vulnerable? I mean, to our entire world? Me neither. Until last year.
What started years ago as a half-hearted, but well-intentioned effort to blog, has now become a labor of love.
Five blogs daily. Every day. Crazy. Wonderful. Exciting.
A couple weeks ago, I humbly invited any followers to consider being a Guest Blogger in one of the five areas – Mind, Body, Spirit, Money, HQ.
Tomorrow, you will meet Bob, a Tennessee native. Bob has been so encouraging over the past year. His insights are always effective – revealing what we might call, “the truth”.
Sometimes, friends nearby will say to me, “Showoff.”
At Gold’s Gym one time, Joe said, “You intimidate people.”
“What are you talking about, Joe”, I asked, confused and astonished.
He said, “You intimidate people. Because you’re gifted.” Come to find out he was referring to my physical fitness appearance.
I told Joe “The only gift I have, is that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.” We both smiled big smiles.
Maybe six years ago, two colleagues and I were in the break area, the two of them discussing their latest diet (Atkins I think it was), and I asked them, “How come no one ever asks me what I do – to lose weight, I mean?”
“You don’t need to worry about it”, was the quick and serious reply.
Know what I said? And I was pissed frustrated with their answer. I said, “I worry about it every single day, that’s why I don’t need to worry about it!!”
You know what? Maybe working harder than others is showing off.
The “guilt” you’ve heard me talk about is really just a humble attempt to say I do not feel guilty. I’ve busted my back trying to make extra-ordinary from ordinary. And it’s been one success after another.
Now, I guess being the Internet’s only “Five-a-Day Blogger” is showing off too?