As Christian leaders we often use the phraseology, “turn to the Bible to…” This phrase is used in all types of situations in various walks of life. We tell people, “If you want to know how to deal with this circumstance or that situation, turn to the Bible. You’ll find the answer in scripture.

I agree, you can find no greater source for any situation or circumstance. Yet, why do we as Christian leaders and churches overlook one of the great teachings of scripture within our own confines of the church? We may go to scripture when recruiting, we find certain passages that meet our desired requirements for particular positions in the church, but do we seek to follow the example of Christ?

Have you ever pondered, maybe even scratched your head concerning Jesus’ choice for His team, His Disciples? These were the men He chose to train then send them out to accomplish a task that had never been set before men. And not only to a few, but to all nations, everywhere. At best Jesus picked a motley crew, uneducated, simple men with callused, hardworking hands. This is not the crew anyone at anytime in the history of the world would select for such a task. But Jesus did, and He used them to turn the world upside down.

Think on it, Jesus did not go to the highest institutions of learning, He didn’t seek out the men with the most degrees to their name, or the brightest of academia. He did not go to the halls of government, seeking the most persuasive minds and congenial personalities. He did not go into the corporate world looking for the leaders of great organizations. He did not even try to find the brightest of Jews educated in the Torah.

Instead, Jesus went first to Galilee to recruit a ragtag bunch of fishermen. Then He proceeded to call men of unexpected means, common men, mostly uneducated in the world’s eyes. Not one was a man of influence, power or prestige. Not one would be considered “the best for the job”. Yet these were the men Jesus chose to turn the world upside down.

It really should not surprise us as God used this methodology many times throughout all of scripture. God often chooses the ones that men will not even consider.

As we look to recruit in the church are we closer to the model Jesus demonstrated, or following a worldly model? I wonder, what greater accomplishments could God do through His church if when recruiting, by prayer, we put on the eyes of Christ instead of the eyes of world seekers? Instead of trying to find the most qualified of our friends to fill a role, what if we sought the fishermen with callused hands that we have written off as – not qualified?

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life. Click here to receive this blog in your email inbox each Tuesday.