The Abilities of Champions

Don’t get me wrong, the school provided theatrical studies, musical classes, a trades department and additional academic opportunities, however these other elements faded to insignificance when compared to the Firsts in Cricket and Football.

1 Kings 5.1-18

Reference:  v.6c  “You know that we have no one so skilled in felling timber as the Sidonians.” (NIV Bible)

Explore:  For my final two years of secondary school I had to move school as my current educational institution closed down.  I moved to a school that had changed from being an all boys school to co-educational 21 years before I attended.  By this stage the girl/boy student ratio was fairly equal, however if you looked at the culture of the school you would see something a little different.  Instead of being co-educational I deemed that it was actually a ‘boy’s school with girls’.  While education was considered important the most critical element of the school was how well the top boys cricket or AFL football team was achieving. This was symbolised by the almost shrine-like behaviour to the main oval of the school.  I think it was the most pampered and cared for aspect of the whole school.  Don’t get me wrong the school provided theatrical studies, musical classes, a trades department and additional academic opportunities, however these other elements faded to insignificance when compared to the Firsts in Cricket and Football. These were the ‘true’ champions of the school.  Yes, I’m sure the boys were skilled in their sporting arena however other skills and abilities were often seen as second rate.
When Solomon was preparing to build the temple of the Lord he searched for those that were most skilled in all the areas that he needed. I liked how he complemented the Sidonians for a skill that they had.  They were seen as great in felling timber and so Solomon sort their skill for the Lord’s temple.

Application:  In our culture there are certain skills that are seen as more desirable than others.  Just like boys sport had priority at my senior school I would have to say that it certainly reflected the priority of our country.  Sport is deemed as corporate worship in Australia with a great deal of media and money focused on it.  There are a number of other areas that our culture idolizes too.  And yet pivotal important spheres like education and health are often pushed to the side.  We need to start seeing all gifts and abilities as important and worthy of consideration.
God made each person with many different gifts and abilities.  He does not consider one gift more important than the other.  God does not say that the artist’s skill in brush strokes is more important than the secretary’s ability to touch type. Both are important and have their place in our current society.  God has created a myriad of talents across all the nations.  He sees the champion quality in everyone.  How can we deem one gift from God more important than another?  Instead of prioritizing people’s gifts we should be celebrating our diversity and marvelling at God’s amazing creativity.

Prayer:  Lord, it is so easy for us to put more focus on the gifts that seem to get us further in this world.  Let us not forget that you created each person and you love us all the  […]

1 Kings