Ephesians 6:10-11
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil …”
Before jumping into the text this morning, I want to voice a concern regarding a popular phrase or meme that I have been hearing/reading in a number of Christian circles. The meme is this: “God qualifies the called.” Another version is; “Whomever the Lord calls, he also qualifies.”
This is misleading theology, and it is dangerous, because it’s simply not true. Scripture is clear that the Lord calls us, but scripture does not say that God “qualifies” us. If we want to be qualified for a job or a role, we must do the work to build the required skill. The Lord does not give us the necessary qualifications. He gives us the power to do the work, he motivates and moves us, he encourages and empowers us, but we still must do the work, and it’s not easy. Most of the time it is a great battle.
The book of Proverbs repeatedly tells us that in the kingdom of God, disciplined training is the necessary path for gaining wisdom and skill. This is the principle of musar. Wisdom and strength are not simply given, they are built. We must trust God and do the work. Paul communicates the same message in several places in the NT, including here in Ephesians 6.
In order to live the life to which God calls us, we must do battle with the devil and his forces. And to win that battle, we must “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” When Paul urges us in verse 10 to draw upon the power of the Lord, he uses exactly the same trio of words that he used in Ephesians 1:19 (dunamis, kratos and ischus). The use of these three different words for “strength” is a unique way of emphasizing just how important it is for us to trust in Christ and his power.
Dunamis is “power,” and is the origin of our English words “dynamite” and “dynamo.” Kratos is “strength” or “force.” Kratos was the Greek god of strength, and was the brother of Nike, the god of victory. Ischus is “might” and carries the idea of endowed power or ability. In all these ways the Lord empowers and equips us for battle.
It is also an emphasis on the combination of God’s action + our action. Some Christians are so self-confident that they think they can manage by themselves without the Lord’s strength and armor. That is a mistake. Others are so self-distrustful that they don’t think they have anything to contribute to their victory in spiritual warfare. That is also a mistake.
Paul expresses the necessity for both divine empowerment and our effort. The power is indeed the Lord’s, and without the strength of his might we will stumble and fall. Nevertheless, we need to be strong in the Lord and in his power, or more accurately we need to “be strengthened.” The verb form in this verse could be rendered “Strengthen yourselves in the Lord.”
So let me say it again. In the kingdom of God, disciplined training is the necessary path for gaining wisdom and skill. This is the principle of musar in the book of Proverbs. It is the principle of gumnazo (“train yourself”) in the book of 1 Timothy. It is also the experience we have every day in the world of cause-and-effect that God has created.
- If you want a productive farm, you must do the work and learn the skills.
- If you want a healthy marriage, you must do the work and learn the skills.
- If you want a successful job/career, you must do the work and learn the skills.
- If you want to be competent at anything in life, you must do the work and learn the skills.
This is God’s design for the cause-and-effect world he has created. You are not exempt from the reality of skill-building because you are a Christian! Quite the opposite, in fact. Because you are a Christian, you should display an exemplary work ethic and commitment to disciplined development of your skills.
It is simply not true that “Whomever the Lord calls, he also qualifies.”
The truth is that the Lord calls you and then commands you to do the work necessary to fulfill his calling in your life. The Lord does not magically give you the knowledge, skill, and competence necessary for doing your job. Whatever your role, if you are a Christian, by all means pray fervently … but you must also practice and prepare.
What would you think if, when you boarded a commercial flight, you overheard the pilot say this to the co-pilot: “You know, I almost flunked flight school, and I haven’t trained in the simulator for several years now, but I sure do study my bible every morning. God qualifies the called!”
Christian pilots cannot skip flight school. Christian doctors cannot bypass medical school. Christian electricians and carpenters cannot bypass trade school and apprenticeship. Christian athletes cannot skip practice.
Trust God, do the work, and build your strength and skill!
“Train yourself in godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.” (I Timothy 4:7-10)
