The Spare Chair

Genesis 10:8-9 – Cush was the father of Nimrod, who grew to be a mighty warrior on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; that is why it is said, "Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord." (NIV)

I bought a spare chair a while ago. It sits in a corner of my kitchen, and for the most part, it doesn't do a lot. It came with a lovely, handwoven, green chair pad, which the cats really enjoy lounging on. I do stand upon it at times to reach something high up in the pantry. Once in a while, we have company, and someone sits on it. But mostly, I simply enjoy its beauty and unpretentious lines, and I am glad to know that it is there for me to use when the need arises.

Nimrod was no spare chair! In Genesis, we read the account of Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, who had many, many sons and grandsons after the flood. But only one of them, Nimrod, son of Cush, son of Ham, grew to be a mighty warrior on earth. There was something about Nimrod that stood out above and beyond all the others, as his accomplishments are specifically mentioned in Scripture in a way that the others aren't.

As I noted this fact, it occurred to me how some Christians, like me, dislike being the spare chair. We want to be like Nimrod and do something outstanding for God, something beyond the average. We don't want to feel that we're not doing much of anything for His kingdom, compared to someone else.

Yet, I love my unique and lovely spare chair. It brings me joy and delight, and it has its own purpose, just as each and every one us, as God's children, brings joy and delight to our heavenly Father's heart. We each have our own purpose, which He has created for us and us alone to achieve. It may not be to be in the limelight, such as was Nimrod. It may not be to do big things for the Lord, to stand over and above the average crowd. But as Mother Theresa once said, "We may not all be called to do great things, but we can all do small things with great love." As the apostle Paul penned in 1 Corinthians 13:13, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (NIV)

So today, if you are feeling like the spare chair, the one who doesn't seem to do much for the kingdom or receive much, if any, recognition for what you do contribute, take a moment to thank God for making you who you are and blessing you with the gifts and talents that you do have. Then, determine within yourself, through God's strength, to put all of your being into everything that He places before you to do. Do each small thing with great love, the love of Jesus, for indeed, love is the greatest of all and does not go unnoticed by Him Who watches.

Prayer: Father God, we thank You so much that You love and delight in all of Your children, whether they be famous in the eyes of the world or the church, or whether they be spare chairs. You have created each one of us and given every one a purpose in life. May we be open to the guidance of Your Spirit this day, that we might fulfill that purpose, be it large or small, with the great love of Jesus within us. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.

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