The Strongest Man Ever
Christians all have unique God-given skills that need to be discovered and used for the greater good of His kingdom.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”1
The strongest man ever is not Eddie Hall, The Mountain, or that ex-bodybuilder in your gym. His name was Louis Cyr, but many people knew him as the Canadian Samson.
Cyr was born in 1863, and first showed his strength while working as a lumberman in his teenage years. His mother one day said, “He should let his hair grow, like Samson in the Bible.” She apparently curled it regularly for him.2
At 17 years old and 104 kgs, Cyr beat the strongest man in Canada by lifting a 220 kg boulder. At 22, he won a Strongman competition in Boston by lifting a 680 kg horse off the ground.
During his career, Cyr lifted a 242 kg weight with one finger, he back lifted a platform with 18 men on it weighing 1967 kg, and before a crowd of 10 000 people, Cyr resisted two draught horses on either arm. He also wrestled a giant who was 2.5 meters tall and 166 kg, and won.
Now of course Louis Cyr exercised to increase his strength, but the majority of his power can be attributed to genetics. He was strong before he knew he was strong. And God knew he would be strong before it all.
In the same way, every Christian is strong. God has given us unique skills, placed us in unique social circles, exposed us to unique experiences, and as a result, there is something very specific that you are the best at in God’s kingdom. There is someone very specific that you have the best chance of bringing into God’s kingdom. That’s one reason why you’re in the kingdom.
This might put pressure on one, but I fancy that it instils a great sense of pride. You have an integral part to play in the most important competition ever.
New Christians will join a church and then be given the option of being on the welcome team, worship band, etc. This can leave people unfulfilled and uncertain of their place in God’s house.
Contemporary churches have homogenized man’s services to God. We are told to serve God and love people in the same way.
Let us pray to God to reveal our specific talents to us, and as a result to reveal His purpose for our lives.
Speaking truth to a homeless person or telling that unbelieving group of friends what Jesus has done for you are both comparable to lifting 242 kg with one finger.
If lifting 18 men inspired a crowd of 10 000, imagine how many we can inspire, how many we can lift, if we use our unique God-given skills.
1 Peter 4:10-11
Ben Weider, (December 1 2000). Louis Cyr: Amazing Canadian. Ironmind Enterprises.
The Strongest Man Ever
Thanks Michael, another great post.
One point to consider...
You said "This might put pressure on one, but I fancy that it instils a great sense of pride. You have an integral part to play in the most important competition ever."
I agree with your sentiment, however I think "pride" is a problematic term, as so much is said about it being exactly what we don't want in scripture. (Mark 7:22, 1Tim 3:6, 1John 2:16)
Perhaps 'purpose' or 'destiny', or 'responsibility' would be better, or is there a kind of Godly pride??
Luke 18:9-14 is one example of pride in being called by God, but that is also condemned.