Grace - Only Those Who Look Foolish Do Great Exploits

Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day.  He killed an Egyptian, an impressive man. Now the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but he went down to him with a club and snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.  2 Samuel 23:20-21

"I believe that somewhere deep down inside all of us there is a primal longing to do something crazy for God.  We want to chase a lion like Benaiah.  But our fear of looking foolish keeps us hog-tied and locked in the basement.

Poll after poll has found that most people's number one fear is speaking in public.  Death ranks number two.  That means some people would rather die than speak in public.  Why?  It is the fear of looking foolish.

It is the fear of foolishness that keeps us from raising our hand in fourth grade.  The other kids will laugh if I get the answer wrong.  It is the fear of foolishness that keeps us from asking someone out on a date.  I don't think I can handle rejection if they say no.  It is the fear of foolishness that keeps us from changing majors or changing jobs.  People will think I don't know what I want to do.  It is the fear of foolishness that keeps us from praying for a miracle.  What if God doesn't answer my prayer the way I want Him to?

But here's the deal:  If you aren't willing to look foolish, you're foolish.  In fact, faith is the willingness to look foolish.

Noah looked foolish building an ark in the desert.  Sarah looked foolish buying maternity clothes at ninety.  The Israelites looked foolish marching around Jericho blowing trumpets.  David looked foolish attacking Goliath with a slingshot.  Benaiah looked foolish chasing a lion.  The wise men looked foolish following yonder star.  Peter looked foolish stepping out of the boat in the middle of the lake.  And Jesus looked foolish hanging half-naked on the cross.

But that's the essence of faith.  And the results speak for themselves.

Noah was saved from the flood.  Sarah gave birth to Isaac.  The walls of Jericho came tumbling down.  David defeated Goliath.  Benaiah killed the lion.  The wise men found the Messiah.  Peter walked on water.  And Jesus rose from the dead.

Can I tell you why some people have never killed a giant or walked on water or seen the walls come tumbling down?  It's because they weren't willing to look foolish."

Batterson, Mark.  In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day.  pp. 148-149