Capable & Qualified
There are times in my work life that I’ve been capable, but not qualified. I’ve also been qualified, but not capable. For example, when I was first licensed in real estate, I was qualified, but there were things I needed to learn in order to be capable. I remember as a student pastor having opportunities before me where I was qualified, but “in over my head” (not capable). I think the intersection of capable and qualified is a “sweet spot” of sorts.
As I make my way through 1 Chronicles and the assignments under David as king, there are some servants that stand out. Obed-Edom was the guy whose house the Ark was at after the ox stumbled when bringing it to Jerusalem. The Lord’s favor was upon him and his children and his children’s children. They became part of the gatekeepers at the Tabernacle and later the Temple. Check this out….
God had richly blessed Obed-edom.
6 Obed-edom’s son Shemaiah had sons with great ability who earned positions of great authority in the clan. 7 Their names were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad. Their relatives, Elihu and Semakiah, were also very capable men.
8 All of these descendants of Obed-edom, including their sons and grandsons—sixty-two of them in all—were very capable men, well qualified for their work. (1 Chronicles 26:5b-8 NLT)
I want to keep growing and learning.
I want to continue to increase my qualifications and capability. Learning and growing change my outlook on today and my role in God’s Kingdom and God’s Economy. Gatekeepers are like “door holders”. They are servants and can create great first impressions. Service in God’s kingdom is not optional. In God’s economy and kingdom, the ranking is a bit reversed. The leaders are simply the “lead servants”. I am troubled by church leaders with a title who think that they are “all that and a bag of chips”. I see these gatekeepers as humble people. I even see Obed-edom as a humble person. His family learned from example and I think the Lord’s favor was upon him and his family because of his service and humility before the Lord.
I’m praying for God’s favor and blessing upon my family and friends. I’m praying that we continue learn the incredible value of simply serving and walking humble before the Lord.
Pressing On!
Dwayne