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Second Fiddle

We live in a culture whereas to be second is though of as inferior, as these gloves are seconds.  However, in God’s plans the good news is that we are all important.

-       Robert Morrison of China wrote, “The great fault, I think, in our missions is that no one likes to be second.”

-       British Pastor George Duncan says that one of the most important lessons in Christian service is that of learning to play the second fiddle well.  “Think for a moment,” he writes, “how often we come across those whose worth is seldom recognized by men, but I am sure will never be overlooked by God, and will certainly not go un-rewarded.”

-       If I might ask, how many of you recognize the name of Albert McMakin?  Allow me to disclose who Albert is.  Albert is the young man who invited and took sixteen year old Billy Graham to the evangelistic services in which he accepted Christ as his Savior.  “So before there could be a Billy, there had to be an Albert!

-       The church universal gives thanks to God for Paul, the greatest Christian who ever lived, but forget that if there had not been a Barnabas there might never have been a Paul!

-       How could we ever forget Simon Peter among the disciples, but forget if there had not been and Andrew who “brought him to Jesus,” there would have never been a Peter!

-       Having just completed an election!  Allow me to share what happened long ago when Abraham Lincoln defeated Stephen A. Douglas for the Presidency, the two were together on the east portico of the capitol for Lincoln’s inauguration.  Lincoln stood beside him, carrying the manuscript of his speech, a cane, and his tall silk hat.  As he made ready to speak, he looked for a place to put his hat.  Stephen Douglas quickly stepped forward, took the hat, and returned to his seat.  “If I can’t be president,” he said to a cousin of Mrs. Lincoln, “I can at least hold his hat.”

It has come to me that its not so bad after all playing second fiddle.  It just takes an attitude adjustment.

Were we to look closely at the book of Ruth we would see that God does provide for our needs.  Often He uses the least likely source to assist us.

-       Naomi’s husband dies, and Naomi is left with her two sons to assist her.

-       Naomi’s two sons die, now she has no one to help her so she thinks.

-       Naomi, the widow, is bitter and faint of spirit.  She’s ready to give up.

-       It’s Ruth, her daughter-in-law, that God will use as second fiddler to encourage her mother-in-law.  “Where you go, I will go, where you lodge, I will lodge.  Your people will be my people, your God, my God…”  Also, in Psalm 42, the Psalmist acknowledges a deep need for God’s refreshing sustaining care.  He used imagery to depict his need.  “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.”

The second fiddler isn’t one given to flattery, or public position.  Jesus in Mark 12, speak concerning those of the religious community.  This is not what the true church seeks.  Jesus watched as the rich placed in the collection, large contributions.  Then Jesus observed a poor widow that came up and put in two small coins, a measly two cents.  Jesus then, summon the 12 and said, “This poor widow has given more than all the others put all together.  All the others gave what they will never miss, she gave extravagantly what she could not afford, she gave her all.”

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