Micah 6:8 “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
Requirements reveal expectations. Just because a job or a career has a lot of requirements doesn’t indicate that the quality of the job is superior. Just like a young man or young lady that has a lot of requirements for a future spouse. More often than not, they either eventually lower their requirements or they stay single. The fact is, if you hold others at high standards, you better have them for yourself as well. If your advertised job requires the cream of the crop, the work experience of the new employees had better meet their expectations, or there’ll be a high turnover. Turnover is a huge problem and expense in the business world. But that’s the worldly way of doing things, requiring the best of the best for a minimum waged, toxic job. Fortune 500’s don’t pray over prospective employees, they just over demand and under deliver. In God’s economy it’s different.
Million Friends is an extremely easy place to get and to keep a job. Initial job requirements are minimal. The problem is there are no openings because no one quits or gets fired. Winnie is the boss, HR, payroll administrator and hirer/employer. She is the president and director of the ‘all Nicaraguan’ Nicaragua NGO we have down here. I only facilitate everything. She’s excellent. All our employees have over 10 years with us. Manolito, Paola, Cindy, Jessica and Yolanda have 20. 90% of Winnie’s hires are permanent. Requirements are very low, just the basic work ethic and integrity. The rest of the skills are teachable. Do they work hard? You bet! Are the jobs difficult? Sure are!! I’m proud of all of them but I have learned to stay out of it. Winnie’s doing great. She prays and hires. The last time she did that was 10 years ago.
Jesus prayed for one night and had 12 perfect hires for their respective jobs. No stringent requirements. These were all Jewish guys. All were probably school students at one time in their lives with high hopes. But none were selected to be personally discipled by a rabbi to be a highly respected religious scholar or professional (which was the best thing a Jewish boy could hope for in that time). Not one of the disciples that Jesus selected had achieved that status academically. They probably felt as if that ship had sailed, that they were academic failures. They couldn’t meet the strict requirements. And then Jesus, the Rabbi of Rabbis, said ‘follow Me!’ No forms and endless interviews. Were their jobs tough? Yes! It cost all of them an early death, except for John who spent his last days in exile and imprisoned. But they learned along the way, and had no regrets except for Judas. Jesus is humble, and was no doubt the best boss in the world. He knew they were perfect for the job.
God’s requirements for us to be His disciples are the same. Very easy. Come as you are. Follow Him! He justifies you. (He saves you, washes you from your sin. Just as if you’ve never sinned!). He teaches you mercy and love by showing you mercy and love. He shows you humility when you see it’s all Him and you have no reason to be proud that you are saved. (It’s a process) He then sics us on society to show others how to do justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with God. Not necessarily as pastors or missionaries, but as normal mensch usually. Although there are huge changes in my health as I age, the government and finances, I have zero concern about the future. I am convinced I will win as many or more souls wherever I am, doing whatever God directs me to do. I will happily serve Him by directing Million Friends with Winnie, or in a 3rd world prison hospital, or being that shopping cart guy at Wal-Mart somewhere in Utah. It doesn’t matter. I just want to be justified through Him, to love mercy and to walk humbly with my God. And to show others how. God doesn’t ask me to be victorious, or wise, or prudent. He doesn’t even require me to survive. Only one requirement, to have faith. Easy. Very low in the way of requirements, but a very rich and rewarding life.
Mark 11:22 KJV And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.