Reluctance!

Reluctance is an unwillingness, lack of enthusiasm, or resistance to do something and it may be experienced due to feelings of fear or inadequacy. Can we relate? How many times have we felt its drag to our movement? How many times have we encountered its glue under our feet? How many times have we experienced its shackles on our hands? How many times have we sensed its tape across our lips?

Reluctance is not new. The Bible records the life of many reluctant servants of God. In fact, we might be surprised how much God was able to accomplish through these reluctant ones. There was Moses who offered excuse after excuse about why he was not the best man for the job ( Exodus 3:11 - 4:13), but he did go and we know the rest of the story. Jonah was another reluctant servant who at first went the opposite direction ( Jonah 1:3) before God finally gained his attention and got him to deliver His warning to Nineveh, a city that did repent. When Isaiah was called to be God’s spokesman, Isaiah viewed himself as a “man of unclean lips” living “in the midst of a people of unclean lips” ( Isaiah 6:5), but when cleansed ( Isaiah 6:6-7) he was willing to be sent ( Isaiah 6:8) by God.

When Jeremiah was called by God, note his reluctant response as well.
“Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SPEAK, for I AM ONLY A YOUTH.’” ( Jeremiah 1:6 ESV)

How often have we wondered, “Who am I to be involved in any work of God?” Do we view God’s call reluctantly as we consider ourselves too young (or too old) or just plain too timid? I don’t know how old Jeremiah may have been, but he obviously did not see the necessary ability within himself for the calling he received. He saw himself as too young for the job. Certainly there was someone older God could call upon. He also did not consider himself to be a good orator. There must have been some other individual more suited to fulfill this mission.

“What am I to say?” “I don’t know what to say to people.” How many times have we asked such questions? There may be all kinds of subjects of which we talk at length with others while we experience great reluctance in talking about the message that matters most?

Note God’s encouragement to Jeremiah.
“(7) But the Lord said to me, ‘DO NOT SAY, ‘I AM ONLY A YOUTH’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. (8) Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.’ (9) Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, ‘Behold, I HAVE PUT MY WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH.’” ( Jeremiah 1:7-9 ESV)

It is not necessarily talented bodies, but rather willing bodies God is able and desiring to use. We are not to focus so much on our own words or our own abilities. If we do, then we have every reason to be reluctant. God is the One who brings the adequacy for what He has called us to do. It is HIS WORDS and HIS POWER we need to learn to rely upon. Let us be reluctant regarding our own abilities, but bold with what God has revealed through His Word. The message we share is to be HIS WORDS ( 1 Peter 4:11) rather than our own message. As we hold out His truth it can stand on its own. Let us continue to keep it in our mouth so that we will have something most beneficial to say.

Have a great day RESISTING FOCUSING ON SELF BY RELYING ON GOD!
Carl

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