Have you ever desired to be accepted by the “cool crowd”? I am sure that this is a feeling with which many can relate. Growing up as the sixth of 10 children, my most ardent desire was to be considered one of the “older ones.” Unfortunately for me, there was a three-year gap between me and my next oldest sibling, creating natural groupings: the “older five” and the “younger five.”
I just could not persuade my parents, or my older siblings for that matter, to accept me as part of that premier group, even though I desperately tried. I heard my older brother say that War and Peace was a good classic, so I soldiered through all 1,225 pages during Christmas break. I heard my older sister say that navy beans and rice was one of her favorite meals, so I dutifully piled my plate with mounds of beans and rice. I heard my older brothers say that the hunter in Bambi was the real hero of the story, so I choked back my tears and cheered when Bambi’s poor mother died. My efforts were for naught. Nothing I could do would change my place in line. I was, and would always be, the sixth.
Sadly, it was many years before I realized that, in my fervent quest to be accepted by my older siblings, I had been ignoring an important fact. Yes, I was only the sixth. But I was also the sixth…of 10. I was the first of the “younger five.” There were four little siblings behind me, and my decisions affected them.
Allow me to use my childhood foolishness to make a spiritual point. In Psalm 106, we find the story of Phinehas, a minor Bible character who was one of Aaron’s grandsons. Verses 29-31 tell us, Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: And the plague brake in upon them. Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: And so the plague was stayed. And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore. Numbers 25 provides more context to Phinehas’s actions. The children of Israel had begun to join themselves to the daughters of Moab and worship their false gods. God sent a plague in punishment, and 24,000 Israelites died. When an Israelite man then had the audacity to bring his Midianite wife to the door of the tabernacle, Phinehas had had enough. He took a javelin and killed both of them, staying the just judgment of God.
Think of how different that story would have been if Phinehas had been worrying about being accepted by the rest of the Israelites. He would have just been the 24,001st of the countless of Israelites to perish from God’s punishment. The Israelites could well have perished completely from world history in that moment! Instead, he was the first to change the status quo, and as the Bible so eloquently says, all generations for evermore can be thankful for his courage.
Thankfully, I do not think that God will require us to thrust anyone through with a javelin to stay a horrible plague! Our courage is often required in much smaller ways. For example, in my family, I was just the sixth; it is true. However, I was the first to work on a church bus route, and four younger siblings followed after me.
You could be the sixth in your Sunday school class to continue talking to your preferred friend group, or you could be the first to stand to welcome a new visitor. After, four other ladies could follow your example.
You could be the sixth student in your Bible college to give the bare minimum, or you could be the first to truly sell out for God. Then, four other students could follow you.
You could be the sixth young Christian mother to say she is simply too busy to make time for church ministries, or you could be the first to sign up for Saturday visitation, with four other mothers following you.
You could be the sixth bored choir member in your section to sing halfheartedly, or you could be the first to sing with all of your heart. Four other choir members hear your dedication and follow.
Perhaps you, like me, have spent a lot of time trying to fit in with a certain group. Maybe you find yourself following instead of leading. I encourage you to look around you. Are there four younger or less mature Christians coming behind you? You do not always have to be the sixth, then. Your example could change the course of others’ lives by being the deciding factor in them choosing a different course. Today, be the first of five!
by Abigail Medford
