1 of 1

Key Bible Verse: You also must run in such a way that you will win (1 Corinthians 9:24). Bonus Reading:1 Corinthians 9:24–27

I remember watching a particular student one day and wondering, "Lord, what in the world are you going to do with this guy? He's got nothing going for him!" When he graduated, he accepted the pastorate of a tiny, dying church in Canada. Nineteen men had walked away from that pulpit. The congregation's spiritual life was in shambles. So I figured, This guy must be too dumb to turn it down!

Well, guess who was dumb? Years later, I was still hearing about that fellow. He'd taken that broken-down church and set it on fire for the Lord. People were growing. Unbelievers were getting saved left and right. The board had launched a building campaign—the first one in 123 years!

Meanwhile another student passed through the seminary. He had every gift a pastor could want: charisma, warmth, an incredible ability to communicate effectively. I was convinced that this man had a bright future. But after graduation he split a church and then divorced his wife to take up with another woman.

Brilliance is sterile unless it is coupled with commitment. God may prefer a sharp tool to a dull one, but He'll use the dull one if that's all that's available.

—Howard Hendricks in Standing Together

My Response: Could God use me in a similar way?

Thought to Apply: The secret of success is constancy of purpose.

—Benjamin Disraeli (British prime minister, 19th century)

Adapted from: Standing Together (Vision, 1995).

Copyright © 2002 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

 1 of 1

share this page

Prayer for the Week

O Christ, You gave Your all for me. I want to give myself to You.

				Try an Issue of Men of Integrity Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Men of Integrity as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up for the Men of Integrity Newsletter (All fields required)    RSS Feed   RSS Help