Tear up Your CV
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’”
Matthew 9:36-38 (ESVUK)
Many job applications need an accompanying CV and the art of CV writing is to present your education, qualifications and experience in the best possible light to a potential employer in order to secure an interview.
The fields are white and the Lord of the harvest has vacancies going for harvesters. All who apply to be a field worker turn up with the same item on their CVs: a 1st class degree in sin. But apart from that there is a great difference in all the applicants’ backgrounds and education. However, the Lord of the harvest doesn’t seem to be bothered where we came from, and he doesn’t seem to mind whether or not we had schooling, dropped out of education or went to a prestigious university.
The Biblical record reveals some of the diverse backgrounds of those whom God has used. Moses was the adopted son of gentile Pharaoh’s daughter; according to Jewish tradition Isaiah was of royal blood; Zechariah who was probably a priest and Amos was a shepherd and tender of sycamore figs.
Now consider just a couple of other more recent contributions: John Bunyan was an itinerant tinker. He authored one of the most widely-read books in the Western canon, Pilgrims Progress. He wrote most of the book in Bedford county gaol whilst he was imprisoned for refusing not to preach. The book was published in 1678 and it has never been out of print; it is claimed to be one of the ten most published books of all time.
Look on the bookshelves and we’ll find another influential book that’s still in print and extensively quoted, Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis. It was published in 1952 and has sold in the millions worldwide; it continues to be bought up by about 150,000 each year. Unlike Bunyan, C. S. Lewis’education took him to Oxford, where he was a Fellow and Tutor of English Literature at Magdalen College. Later he was given the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Magdalene College, Cambridge.
Moses grew up in the palace of a king. Amos was a herdsman. Bunyan started life as a travelling mender of pots and pans. Lewis was a highly educated academic, novelist, poet and broadcaster. Though coming from widely different backgrounds, all continue to make considerable contributions to the journeys of those who are being led by God to belief and faith and life in him and with him. Hurray—seems like our upbringing’s irrelevant.
Prayer
Lord of the harvest, we give you thanks that whoever we are, you welcome us to share in your work. Whatever our credentials, we come ill-equipped to work for you. Patiently teach us so that we may be useful workers in your fields.
Amen
Study by Hilary Buck
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About the Author:
Hilary Buck pastors Grace Communion in Lewes. Like us on www.facebook.com/GCLewes
Local Congregation:
Grace Communion – Lewes
The Priory School
Mountfield Road
LEWES BN7 2XN
Meeting Time:
Saturday 11:00am
Local Congregational Contact:
Hilary Buck
Email: hilaryjbuck@gmail.com