SUFFICIENT IN HIS SUFFICIENCY.
21st November 2017Our society today teaches us that in order to succeed, you must be outgoing and aggressive. After three years in vet school, one of the things we all grapple with, at this stage, is the uncertainty of where you will end up after uni. And so, everyone is fashioned to work competitively for opportunities that will make you better standing. To build your curriculum Vitae to be unique. To be smarter and have all the required skills and experience. To know people who know people. With time, I have come to appreciate the importance of all this. However, I worked for all these, suddenly everything became about me. I needed to work hard to be smarted that everyone or I needed to work more on increasing my circle of colleagues and the list of things I needed improve and work on became unending.
As I went through 2nd Corinthians 3, I could to relate what was going on in the Corinth church. Paul in verse 5 says ‘Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.’ Paul remind reminds them that they did not have any power to enlighten any mind nor to change any heart, but they are instruments in the hand of God. For though they are sufficient for the work God has called them, and God has done great things by them, they should not ascribe any glory to themselves. All success is to be traced to God.
In Hannah’s song, she rejoices after getting a son after desperately desiring one but could not conceive. This is after a long time of Peninnah, her husband’s second wife, taunting her of her barrenness. She warns us not to take pride in earthly things such as strength, riches and even our own lives.
1st Samuel 2
3 Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth;
for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength.
5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.
The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.
6 The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts.
8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world.
9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail.
Even as the world calls us to busyness and muchness in making it through life by our efforts and strength, let us keep drawing grace and strength from the Lord. For He is the strength of our heat and our portion forever, though our heart and flesh fails us. For what a blessed assurance we have! That he is able to provide for all our needs according to his glorious riches in Jesus Christ.
Dr. Jessica Kurere, Kenya.