Not Our Battle

Bulletins

Brian Nielsen
10/27/24 - General

I usually won in my high school summer basketball days in the park.

Well, I was usually on the winning side. Before you think this is anything about bragging about myself, be informed I was usually the worst basketball player on the court. So to even out teams in these informal games I was paired with the best. I had enough common sense to toss the ball inbounds to my friend John Timmons or Marvin Miller and basically stay out of the way.

Somehow, a half-century later, these games in the park came to mind when I read 2 Chronicles 20:15 which says, "And he said, 'Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the lord to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.' "

Now my buddies weren't the all-powerful, unbeatable God, but the idea was that if I knew it was their ballgame, not mine, and I needed to give the ball to them. It really wasn't MY game.

I forgot that for many years of my working life thinking everything depended on me and my own decisions. Not until a career change late in my working days did I realize it was much better to trust another. Submitting to someone half my age, but much smarter, my life became much more enjoyable not questioning but doing what I was told.

The intent of this writing is not to discourage anyone from trying to advance to the head of a company at work or be the star athlete. We need those. But in all our lives we need to trust and submit to our Savior who is never going to be wrong. No matter what. Disciples were told this in John 21:22 where we read, "Jesus said to him, 'If I will that he remain till I come, what is it to you? You follow Me.' "

This doesn't mean we just sit back apethetically and let the boss do it all. Even in those basketball games after I inbounded the ball, I also tried hard to play defense, rebound, and hopefully chase down a loose ball so I could give it to my more skilled teammate. In more important matters, we need to follow Romans 12:11 which says, "not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord."

We just need to know who is in charge. David did. Often times I think the David and Goliath duel is misunderstood, including its reference in my favorite movie referring to an underdog. Little young David knew he wasn't really an underdog against a giant. David explains this boldly in 1 Samuel 17:46-47 when he said, "This day the lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the lord's, and He will give you into our hands."

David knew whom to give the glory. God won. God always does.

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith." (1 John 5:4)

Being an underdog is overrated. I'd rather be with the unbeatable powerhouse. I just need to remember to whom to pass the ball.

(Scripture quotes are from the NKJV)