GIANTS AND GRASSHOPPERS

Has God called you to be a custodian of his sacred word and you have stooped to sell oil or to become a political leader or to pursue some other occupation? As a woman, has God called you to the important job of a home maker and you have stooped to take a high-flying job? There is nothing wrong with pursuing a highprofile job. Neither is it wrong for a committed Christian to run for political office.

In her book It’s my turn, Ruth Bell Graham, wife of evangelist Billy Graham, tells of how in the turn of the 20th century, an oil company needed someone to manage their new office in China. They were looking for a man who was under thirty, possessed a university degree, was a proven leader and had a fluent working knowledge of Chinese.

After a rigorous search, someone said he had a friend who was the ideal candidate; the fellow was already living in China, and in the city where the company was going to establish its office. Besides meeting all the requirements for the job, this man had the full confidence of the people in that community, having lived and worked amongst them for a few years. They found out that this candidate was earning 600 US Dollars a year. The Chairman of the oil company wondered why such a bright young man would be paid so little. Upon further enquiry they discovered that he was employed by a Christian mission board.

The company was prepared to hire him at any cost. The Chairman sent someone to China with instructions to offer the young man 10,000 US Dollars per annum. If he refused, he was to be offered 12,000 or even 15,000. He turned down all the offers.

When the agent asked the young man what he wanted to earn, he responded to the effect that the problem was not with the salary, but with the job. He agreed that the salary was wonderful but he felt the job was too little. God had called him to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he explained, he felt he would be a fool to leave such an assignment to sell oil. In this book, the young man is described as a GIANT.

Similarly, in the book Ruth Bell Graham, Celebrating an extraordinary life, by Stephen Griffith, Billy Graham’s daughter, Anne Graham Lotz, tells of how a group of people once approached her father to run for president of the United States of America. They were prepared to fund his candidacy. Her mother, Ruth Graham, said to her husband “When God calls you to be an evangelist, you don’t stoop to be president”. For not allowing himself be deviated from his God given assignment, Billy Graham joined the league of GIANTS.

Has God called you to be a custodian of his sacred word and you have stooped to sell oil or to become a political leader or to pursue some other occupation?

As a woman, has God called you to the important job of a home maker and you have stooped to take a high-flying job? There is nothing wrong with pursuing a high-profile job. Neither is it wrong for a committed Christian to run for political office. The important thing is to ensure you are in the will of God; that is where you will find peace and fulfilment.

Are you a Giant or a Grasshopper? Joshua and Caleb were giants.

In the book of Numbers chapter thirteen Israel was journeying towards Canaan. Moses sent twelve spies ahead to survey the promise land. All the spies reported the facts on ground; the land was rich and fertile, just as God had said. But when it came to how the evidence affected God’s promise to them, they differed. Ten of the spies said the Canaanites were powerful, their cities were very large and well fortified. They even reported seeing Giants there. They said they felt like Grasshoppers and were convinced that they appeared like Grasshopers to the Canaanites.

But Joshua and Caleb had another report; “WE WILL CONQUER THEM EASILY.”

While the ten spies believed what they saw, Joshua and

Caleb believed God’s promise – that Canaan, the promise land was thiers for the taking. God commended Joshua and Caleb for following Him wholeheartedly. At the end of the day, only two of them made it to the promise land. Those who saw themselves as grasshoppers doubted God’s word and they perished in the wilderness like grasshoppers.

Are you a Giant or a Grasshopper?

A Giant lives by faith and not by sight. He or she follows the leading of the Word and the Spirit of God above natural evidence. A Giant counts the cost of following God’s call for their life and is ready to stay the course thorugh thick and thin; whether it takes them to the ministry or the market place. Does the Giant face obstacles? Does the Giant get discouraged? Does the Giant sometimes want to give up? Ofcourse, but the Giant keeps life in perspective. He or she weighs time against eternity and chooses to loose the whole world to gain his or her soul. So, the Giant turns their back on this world, takes up their cross and follows Jesus.

What has God promised you? What does God require of you? Would you believe Him, would you obey Him and join the league of Giants or would you stoop to become a Grasshopper?