When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and cut off all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. – Deuteronomy 25:18

Today’s Scripture Reading (September 24, 2012): Deuteronomy 25

I recently overheard an uncomfortable conversation. It came in the form of someone asking to be placed in a leadership position. It placed the leader in a bit of a spot. There were several problems with the request, including that the person that wanted the leadership position had not been with the club for very long (according the leader that period of time was less than a month.) The leader tactfully tried to explain the problem. This was not about whether he was good enough for the position, but this was about involvement – and as of this point in time, he was not only new, but he had refused to be involved.

I am concerned for our society’s desire and care for the strong. It seems to be everywhere I look. It is in the heroes that we choose and in the people we desire to hang out with. We choose our leaders from those who are the best and the brightest – and sometimes it seems that the strong are chosen even when they could care less about the organization. And everywhere I go there are a group of people hanging around on the edges being overlooked – they are sitting on the outside just begging for someone to invite them in.

I have a lot of respect for coaches that are willing to sit their star players down when they seem to become apathetic, no matter how good they are or how much they are needed. But it goes beyond even that. God seems to indicate that we will be judged not by how we treat the popular in the room, but rather how we treat those sitting in the corner waiting to be invited in. We will be judged by how we treat the ones who are worn out because they have been involved – the weary and the tired.

The Amalekites liked to attack the weak. In that they were not much different than an animal on the prowl. But as people that only showed a lack of fear in God, because those who fear God will always be on the side of the marginalized, the ones who desire involvement but are worn out by it.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 26