What does God say about meritocracy?

 

I try not to get political on this blog but I have to comment on this.

 

There seems to be a war on meritocracy in some circles.  That it is somehow bad to extol the virtues of excellence and striving to be the best.   They think instead that we should celebrate and hold up those who are average as the example of what we should all strive to be. 

So what does God say?  I can think of many example in the Bible such as this one in the New Testament.  

 

When Paul tells us to run the race, does he tell us to run the race to finish in the middle of the pack?  No!  Paul tells us to run the race to win!

You know my belief that whenever possible I like to find example from both the Old and New Testaments when I make a point.  So here is an example from the Old Testament.  

 

Numbers 13:1-2(NKJV)

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 

“Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.”

 

So when God told Moses to send out men to spy out the land that God was giving them, did God say send the most average people you have?  No He did not!  God said send "leaders of men"! 

 

So there you have examples from both the Old and New Testaments that indicate, at least in my opinion, that the Bible supports meritocracy!

Notice what Jesus didn't do for Simon!

Here is an interesting verse.  Jesus is warning Simon (Peter) that Satan is going to attack him (Simon Peter).  Take a look and then I will share a thought. 

 

Luke 22:31-33(NKJV)

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 

But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”

 

Notice what Jesus does for Simon.  Jesus prays for him. 

 

Notice what Jesus doesn't do for Simon.  Jesus doesn't stop Satan from attacking Simon.  One might wonder why.  After all, one of the things Jesus promises to do is protect us.  How is not stopping Satan from attacking Simon, protecting Simon?

Here are my thoughts.  Sometimes you have to let people struggle to find their hidden strengths.  Jesus knew that if Simon drew on the name of Jesus in his battle with Satan, then Simon would be OK.  However, the only real way for Simon to learn that lesson as completely as Jesus needed him to learn it, was to put Simon in a "do or die" type situation where he was truly forced to do it. 

 

Dr. Shuler wrote a book years ago called "Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?".  That is a question people have been asking since the beginning.  I believe one of the reasons  is that there are just some life lessons that we only seem to be able to learn "the hard way".   

Our parents and grand parents can warn us till they are blue in the face, but we don't listen.  We insist on learning those lessons for ourselves. 

Seems to be human nature.  Funny how Jesus already knew that!