I Corinthians 1:27

Only a blast of rams’ horns and a shout—and God made the walls of proud Jericho crumble to their foundations, and the key of all Canaan was in the hand of Israel! (Joshua 6)

Only two women—one, Deborah, inspired courage in the fainting hearts of Israel’s men—the other, Jael, with a hammer and nail laid Israel’s master low; thus the end came to twenty years of mighty oppression! (Judges 4–5)

We must not be fainthearted because we are consciously poor instruments. The main question is the mastery of Him who uses the instruments.

Once Paganini, standing before a vast audience, broke string after string of his violin. Men had come to hear his greatest sonata, “Napoleon.” They hissed as he seemed to destroy all hope for continuing his performance.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbradeth not; and it shall be given him.

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.—Having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

When the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud, ... a man lefthanded.

After him was Shamgar, ... which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.

Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.—Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.—My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.—God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?—Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.

Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him?

God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence.

The bravery of God in trusting us! You say - "But He has been unwise to choose me, because there is nothing in me; I am not of any value." That is why He chose you. As long as you think there is something in you, He cannot choose you because you have ends of your own to serve; but if you have let Him bring you to the end of your self-sufficiency then He can choose you to go with Him to Jerusalem, and that will mean the fulfilment of purposes which He does not discuss with you.

We are apt to say that because a man has natural ability, therefore he will make a good Christian. It is not a question of our equipment but of our poverty, not of what we bring with us, but of what God puts into us; not a question of natural virtues of strength of character, knowledge, and experience - all that is of no avail in this matter. The only thing that avails is that we are taken up into the big compelling of God and made His comrades (cf. 1 Cor. 1:26-30). The comradeship of God is made up out of men who know their poverty. He can do nothing with the man who thinks that he is of use to God. As Christians we are not out for our own cause at all, we are out for the cause of God, which can never be our cause. We do not know what God is after, but we have to maintain our relationship with Him whatever happens. We must never allow anything to injure our relationship with God; if it does get injured we must take time and get it put right. The main thing about Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain and the atmosphere produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to look after, and it is the one thing that is being continually assailed.