Big or Small Role

Read Acts 1:15-26

Acts 1:26
Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Jesus was gone from among them. The 11 disciples were waiting for the filling of the Holy Spirit. However, they also had to make sense of the situation before them.

Judas Iscariot was one of them. He had relationships with them. They ate with him, walked with him for more than three years. They were buddies. They were intimate for they were “The Twelve”. And now they were the eleven.

How does one make sense of a senseless situation? How does one wrap his/her mind around things that had happened but shouldn’t have and doesn’t make any sense?

The disciples did 2 things: they went to the Word of God and they prayed. Through these two means, they found a sense of peace and saw what they must do to move forward. Judas’ betrayal and death was not out of God’s control even though it was tragic. God showed them the next step: another person was needed to take the place of Judas.

The disciples knew what to do next to pick up the broken pieces. The qualification criteria for an apostle were drafted. Two men were nominated: one Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Both were equally qualified for the selection. They drew lots and Matthias was chosen. Justus was no less qualified but Matthias was chosen.

Yet how many of us read about Matthias in the Bible after this? Not much; nothing in fact. In fact, James, the brother of Jesus surpassed many of the apostles in terms of mentioning in the Bible. But James (the author of James in the Bible) did not even fit the criteria for an apostle because he only believed after the resurrected Jesus appeared to him (I Cor 15:7 and John 7:5).

Justus, Matthias, James and the apostles – all these lives teach us one great important truth: that each of us has a role to play in God’s kingdom. It is not how big or small a role one plays, it is that humble obedience to play the role well that counts in God’s eyes. Be it a visual and big role or quiet and small role, what God demands is that of complete obedience and submission.

Ultimately, God decides our role. Our call is to be faithful to the roles that He has called us.