Survival of the fittest. That is the underlying principle of the theory of evolution. We live in a world where the strong are the celebrated. The weak are the vilified and rejected.
The academically weak student becomes an object of ridicule amongst his peers and a source of shame for his parents. The financially weak parent becomes an embarrassment for his child who wonders why s/he doesn’t have a better life. The feeble wife becomes a punching bag for the imperious and angry husband. The uneducated gateman and driver is held in disdain by the CEO. The political and ruling class see the governed masses as tools for their ambition and pleasure. The criminal nihilistic sociopaths (à la terrorists, paedophiles, rapists etc) delight in preying on the weak and defenseless. Some societies by social contraptions like the caste system permanently designate generations as weak and inferior to be trampled upon by the elites of the system.
No wonder, we are prone to becoming depressed and dejected when we discover ourselves to be weak in certain (or even all) aspects and areas of life. We try for as long as we can to deny our weaknesses. We get angry at anyone who exposes our weaknesses. But I have come to see, God Almighty is the God of the weak and powerless.
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NKJV)
Are you weak? Do you feel life has given you a bad deal? Please know that God doesn’t deal with us on account of our strength. No. He delights to call the weak. He delights to heal and help the weak. He is the God of the weak.
Are you strong? Please remember the weak. Ghandi once said, ” The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members”. I will modify it to say, “the true measure of any person can be found in how s/he treats the weak and vulnerable”. The world was shocked by the video of the “devil maid” viciously beating an 18 month old child left in her care. You most probably may not do that. But how much do you have regard for the weak and vulnerable around you?
December 1 is World AIDS Day. Show some love and care. Stop discrimination and stigmatization.
#InspireMonday celebrates the God of the weak!
