City Life Starter

Written by Scott Fiddler

The Word

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:21-26

Reflection

Matthias and Barsabbas had both followed Jesus from the baptism of John until Jesus’ ascension. By every visible measure, both men were equally qualified to be an apostle. But when it came time to choose the person to replace Judas Iscariot and become one of the twelve, it was Matthias, not Barsabbas, who got the nod. Barsabbas’s moment of opportunity became a moment of silence.  

It is not clear what ultimately happened to Barsabbas. Later traditions say he became a bishop in Judea, but that is not particularly reliable. We just don’t know. What we do know is he was not chosen to be one of the twelve, and his passing over was preserved in Scripture for the generations to come. But scripture records Barsabbas’s non-selection, not his failure, and the Holy Spirit did not preserve this moment in scripture by accident.

We have all been in Barsabbas’s position at one time or another. We look at others with a different career, more success, or more money, and we wonder, “Lord, why didn’t you choose me for that?” 

Sometimes God does not choose someone else for something better, but He chooses us for something hard. It might be caring for an aged parent, working in an obscure or little-appreciated job, or persevering in a difficult marriage. Regardless of which it is, it is God’s choosing—not our preference—that determines our calling.

About ten days before Barsabbas was passed over, Jesus appeared to the disciples on the beach while they were fishing. After they ate, Jesus told Peter that when he was older he would be bound and taken where he did not want to go (John 21:18) — not something one would hope for. 

Seeing the disciple John following, Peter asked Jesus, “What about this man?” (v. 21). Jesus said, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”  John 21:21 (NASB)

Jesus was saying that another’s calling is none of our business. One calling may be visible and celebrated; another, obscure and overlooked. One may be well compensated and the other under-paid. But for us there is only following or not following, obedience or disobedience. Callings are not for comparison.

Peter was ultimately faithful to his calling. So was Jesus, which is why He could pray in John 17, “Lord, I have glorified you on the earth, having completed the work you have given me to do.” John 17:4 (NASB).

Less than two weeks after Jesus’ appearance on the beach, Barsabbas would be given the opportunity to apply the lesson Jesus taught Peter.

Application

Yet scripture leaves Barsabbas’s story unfinished.  Many of the most impactful lives in Kingdom history remain unfinished in the Bible because their significance lies not in what they became but in that they obeyed.

We know that while Barsabbas was not chosen to be an apostle, he was still called to follow Jesus. But we don’t know whether he chose to follow. He was left with a choice, just as we are left with a choice.

And how we choose is the choice that ultimately matters.

Prayer

Lord, help me not to be distracted by Your calling of others, so I can fulfill Your calling of me. Amen.