Don't Take it for Granted

Found an article recently that caught my attention.  It was about an unusual coin, a 1913 Liberty Head nickel that was valued at $25,000.  As I read the article, a particular comment struck me about the attitude of the owner of this rare coin.  A coin dealer and friend of the owner was quoted as saying: “He’s quite a guy.  He has shown that coin around so much, it’s become commonplace for him.”

You might wonder how someone could come to view something so rare and valuable as commonplace and yet all of us in many ways do just that.

There is a common saying: “Familiarity breeds contempt.”  It seems the longer we are associated with a company, job, technological advancement, person or whatever, the easier it is to take these things for granted and not appreciate them as we should.

We can even do this with spiritual truths, as illustrated in Matthew 22:1-14.  This parable is about a wedding feast.  Those who were invited first made various excuses not to come.  Finally, the king instructed his servants to call others, both “bad and good” (verse 10), so the wedding hall be filled with guests.

The king noticed one man who was improperly dressed and who could offer no explanation when confronted.  The man was cast “into outer darkness” (verse 13) and the story closes with the warning of verse 14: “For many are called but few are chosen.”

One lesson from this parable is that of taking our calling for granted, just like the wedding guest who was cast out.  It is obvious from the story that he was complacent about his calling to the wedding and did not properly prepare.  Our adversary, Satan would love for us to treat God’s calling superficially and not to appreciate it as we should.  How can we prevent this?

To begin, we should realize how personal God’s calling is.  Jesus said, “No man come to me, except the Father which has me draw him” (John 6:44).  God Himself does the calling.  God the Father wants to develop a close relationship with us.  Should we not delight in this opportunity to get close to God?

In I Corinthians 1:26-31, Paul tells us that “not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called,” but that God is choosing the “the weak.”

How wonderful it is that God is willing to deal mostly with average, ordinary, unexceptional people.  On occasion, God calls those who above average but this is the exception.  God does this so we can glory in His calling, willingly yield ourselves to Him and grow and overcome, looking to Him and not to ourselves.

How different this is from the way man thinks.  Appointees to positions or jobs are selected on their qualifications.  It is normal for a newly elected President to select a new Presidential Cabinet and those chosen are picked because of their qualifications and training as well as political considerations.

God, on the other hand, chooses us first and then provides the training so we can qualify to receive a spiritual responsibility as part of the gift of our salvation.

Notice another aspect of how God calls us.  In II Timothy 1:9 Paul tells us that God calls us “not according to our works.”  How comforting it is that a merciful God does not hold our past mistakes in mind as He chooses to deal with us.  How many of us would God call if He called us according to our works?  Few, if any.

I Peter 2:25 gives us another benefit of God’s calling: “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”  As verse 21 brings out this return comes through God’s calling.

Few animals are as helpless and vulnerable as sheep, especially sheep cut off from their shepherd.  Spiritually speaking, humans are much the same without God.  Satan is likened to a roaring lion that is on the prowl-seeking victims (I Peter 5:8).  God’s calling provides protections and safety through Christ the chief shepherd.

Galatians 5:13 gives us another benefit of God’s calling in which we can appreciate.  Paul wrote “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh but by love serve one another.”

Before God called us, we were “servants [or slaves] of sin.” (Romans 6:17).  The Bible pictures this situation as spiritual bondage, with Satan the devil as an evil taskmaster.  Worries, fears and frustrations, in addition to sins, keep many people under servitude and slavery.

God’s calling, however, provides us with liberty and the freedom to live an abundant life.  God’s law is a “law of liberty” (James 2: 12), and through God’s mercy and calling we can achieve true freedom from sin.

In II Peter 1: 3-4 we learn that through the calling of God “exceeding great and precious promises” are made available to us.  God’s Word is filled with these promises and God Himself stands back of every one of them.  Included in these promises are such benefits as protection, salvation, forgiveness, mercy, help and encouragement, strength and prosperity.  All of these can be ours if we respond to God’s calling and yield ourselves to Him.

It is easy to see why Philippians 3:14 talks about a “high” calling.  To be one of those with whom God is dealing with is a great privilege.

In light of all of these points let’s not be like the rare coin owner who took his asset for granted.  God’s calling is much more precious.