CONSIDER YOUR CALLING

Key Verse;

1 Corinthians 1:26 –

“Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.”

1. God’s Calling Is Based on Grace, Not Merit

The apostle Paul urges believers to reflect on their calling, not to discourage them, but to remind them that God’s standards are different from human expectations. While the world values intelligence, influence, and social status, God chooses people based on His sovereign grace, not on their qualifications.

This ties into the doctrine of election and calling—that God calls people not because they are worthy, but because He chooses to display His glory through them. Paul continues:

1 Corinthians 1:27–29 –
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.”

This reflects

Ephesians 2:8–9:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

2. God Humbles Before He Uses

God often prepares His servants by humbling them—removing self-reliance, pride, or human strength so that their dependence is fully on Him. We see this clearly in the life of Moses.

Acts 7:22 –

“Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.”

Moses was a man of position, power, and knowledge. Yet despite this, God did not use him while he was still in Pharaoh’s court. Instead, God led Moses into the wilderness to shepherd sheep for 40 years—symbolizing a season of breaking and transformation.

When God finally called Moses to deliver Israel, Moses was no longer confident in his abilities. He said:

Exodus 4:10 –
“Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

Moses had been emptied of his pride. This is why God could now use him. This principle aligns with

 James 4:6:

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

And later, Moses is described this way:

Numbers 12:3 –
“Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.”

God uses humility as a vessel for power. This is also reflected in

2 Corinthians 12:9, where God says to Paul:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”

3. God’s Pattern Hasn’t Changed

The pattern of God choosing the humble, weak, and unqualified continues throughout Scripture:

• David was a shepherd boy, overlooked by his own father (1 Samuel 16:11–13).

• The disciples were fishermen, tax collectors—not religious scholars (Matthew 4:18–22).

• Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a humble young woman of no status (Luke 1:48).

This shows that God delights in using the lowly to display His own power and glory.

4. God Reveals Truth to the Humble

Jesus praised the Father for hiding spiritual truths from the proud and revealing them to the humble:

Luke 10:21 –
“At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.'”

This aligns with

 Matthew 5:3:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

God reveals spiritual truth not through intellectual achievement but through spiritual humility.

5. The Danger of Pride and Self-Sufficiency

Spiritual pride can block God’s work in our lives. If we are too full of ourselves, God cannot fill us with His Spirit. That’s why Paul said:

Galatians 6:3 –
“If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.”

Romans 12:3 also warns:

“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment.”

Those who rely solely on theological degrees or church positions often miss the movement of the Spirit, because they trust more in knowledge than in God. The Holy Spirit is the true Teacher (John 14:26), and God desires dependence on Him, not credentials.

6. Self-Examination and Surrender

As Paul said, “Consider your calling.” This means each of us must take time to ask:

• Have I surrendered my pride, status, or education to God?

• Am I relying on my human strengths, or on the Spirit of God?

• Have I truly allowed God to shape me in humility so that He can use me?

Romans 12:1 –
“Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.”

Only when we lay ourselves fully on the altar—our ambitions, ego, and achievements—can we be fully used by God.

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Conclusion

If we want to be used by God, we must first be emptied of self and filled with Him. God does not need impressive résumés—He desires willing and humble hearts.

Let us remember:

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

So, consider your calling. Surrender your pride, let go of self-reliance, and allow the Spirit of God to work in and through you.

May the Lord bless you and guide you in your calling.