We live in a society that more often than not values style
over substance. People in the 21st
century spend an inordinate amount of time wading in the shallows of
superficiality rather than delving into the depths of meaningful thought and
conversation. As a result, many lack the
patience required to actually sit still and listen to a well thought out
argument. Undue credence is sometimes
given to poorly formed ideas or erroneous information simply because it is
presented in a dynamic or attractive manner.
Throughout
the Biblical narrative, God has often chosen people for positions of leadership
who would be passed over by the rest of us.
The reason? God values substance
over style. When Moses was called by God
to deliver his people from Egypt, Moses initially tried to get out of the job,
in part, because he felt he was inadequate as a speaker. But God in his wisdom had been preparing
Moses for this important task in a variety of other ways, most notably through
his upbringing in Pharaoh’s household.
Paul was another, who, according to the Corinthians, lacked polish and
presence. Nevertheless, God spoke
powerfully through him and our New Testament would be considerably smaller
without his letters. In a world where
the bold and the brash steal the headlines, we would do well to search for the
subtle and sure. - Shay 
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