Apprentices for Sugar, Labourers for Christ

Submitted by Alan Marsden on Tue, 10/10/2017 - 05:59

The Apprentice is back. The show’s format remains unchanged though few seem to have tired of it. The first episode is always interesting. Eighteen beautiful, well-groomed young men and women tell the cameras of their sheer brilliance, how skilled they’ve become and how rich they already are. They all seem a tad psychopathic, bragging about their ruthlessness and woe betide any who dare cross them.

The process involves the rivals working together in order to make Alan Sugar as much money as possible in a given task. One by one, week by week, these conceited prima-donnas are fired, until only the most impressive remain. Perhaps it’s a great way to select the best candidate; it’s certainly entertaining seeing their hubris tamed.

What a contrast with the way the God of heaven chooses and employs His labourers on earth. Few of us are beautiful, clever or noble. In fact, our Boss detests pride and vain ambition. He prefers humble, foolish-sounding types who know they have nothing to offer Him. When the Lord came to Earth, he picked disciples from the stock of rough fishermen, not the well-educated Pharisees, or suave, cultured Sadducees.

Are you an impressive individual, with a comprehensive skill-set and an awesome CV? Consider yourself redundant in the Kingdom. On the other hand, if you are weak and useless, consider yourself hired.

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. 1 Corinthians 1:27