316 of 365 - unity over Partiality

Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. Galatians 2:1
 
The false teachers are relentless, causing increasingly destructive division. Unity is a big deal to God. It’s time to confront this elephant in the room head-on. After 14 years, God tells Paul to go to Jerusalem.

Four times Paul refers to the leaders as ones who “seem influential” or “seem to be pillars”. If feels snarky, but Paul is recognizing their clout in the Church. These are the people looked to for guidance and authority.

Paul acknowledges their status, but says it makes no difference to him; they add nothing to what he received directly from God; God shows no partiality. These men may be Christian “super-stars”, have all the “followers”, bring in the big crowds, get all the attention….but, in God’s eyes, they are no better than Paul or anyone else who is doing what God called and ordained them to do.

There are no top dogs in God’s eyes, regardless of how it may look to the outside world. In fact, in God’s upside-down-first-will-be-last kingdom, the top dogs are likely on the bottom.

If you are abiding in God and He has given you a calling, you are just as important and qualified as anyone else fulfilling their God-given calling. If God is telling you to write, you are no less qualified than a best-selling author. If God is telling you to teach, you are no less important than a mega-church pastor. If God is telling you to start a non-profit, you are no less equipped than the founder of a multi-million-dollar organization. God shows no partiality.

Questions: Do you ever feel like you “less than” those around you doing things you want to do? Do you believe God shows no partiality and you are just as qualified as they are if He has given you the calling?