Shark Tank

1 Peter 5:1-11

  

Money and power equals success in our culture. The TV reality show Shark Tank personifies this. It is all about money and power.

 

The panel of super successful business people entertain pitches from entrepreneurs for their business ideas. If a panel member(s) like the pitch, they commit some of their own personal money to that business. If not, then look out. After all, the panel members are sharks, and if you’re going to get into the tank with sharks, you better be ready.

 

Peter was not particularly humble. He was more of a shark. He approached Jesus about who was the greatest. Anytime Jesus asked a question, Peter was the first to respond. Peter knew how to get things done and had the confidence to do them; until the night Jesus said that Peter would betray him. And later he did just that.

 

Following the resurrection, Peter wrote to the believers who were exiled throughout Asia Minor, “And all of you serve each other with humble spirits, for God gives special blessings to those who are humble, but sets himself against those who are proud. ⁶ If you will humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, in his good time he will lift you up.”          TLB

 

If you look at the Bible as a whole, God used those who were humble; who often times found themselves at the bottom socially, economically or emotionally.

• David was the youngest of Jesse’s sons doing the lowly job of a shepherd when Samuel declared him to be the next king.
• Gideon was hiding in a winepress when God called him to be a “Mighty Warrior”.
• Mary was a poor peasant teenager, soon to be pregnant out of wedlock, when God’s angel called her to be the mother of Jesus.
• Paul was persecuting the believers when Christ struck him blind and called him to repent.

 

This is how God works. This is where He wants us; humble, not proud. Eugene Peterson puts it like this in Matthew 5: ³ “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. ⁴ “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.”           MSG

 

Money and power equals success, but what pleases God more; your success or your faith? Are you proud or are you humble before Him?

 

 

 

Welcome to the shark tank. You better be ready.