What is an underdog? Is it the cartoon character about a superhero dog who wears a cape and flies around fighting crime? No, not quite. Listen as I share an entry from the dictionary. Merriam-Webster defines the word “underdog” as, “a predicted loser in a struggle or contest.” In other words, an underdog is someone who is expected to come in last place, and predicted not to accomplish anything of significance.
You will find people who are seen as the underdog in all walks of life, and in all areas of occupation and service, including the ministry of the gospel. In Matthew 3:1-6, we find the perfect picture of a “perceived” underdog:
“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.’ And John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.”
The Bible describes John the Baptist as a grasshopper-eating caveman (Mt 3:4). People could have steered clear of him, thinking that God would never speak through such a weirdo. John was a strange looking person, to say the least, but if you will notice, people still came to hear his message. They didn’t come because John was attractive; they came because his message was attractive.
John began his ministry in the wilderness, which is a place of “seeming” insignificance; but people “went out to him” (Mt 3:5) where he was. They journeyed to his remote preaching point, because they were hungry and he had spiritual meat that would satisfy. John may have looked rather strange, and perhaps he wasn’t an eloquent speaker either; nevertheless, God used him for His glory. Consider for a moment what the apostle Paul said about one’s calling, in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29:
“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.”
Back in the time of the judges, when the Israelites were selecting their very first king, they chose Saul because he had all the qualities that the world expects to result in greatness. The Bible says he was very handsome and from a wealthy family (1 Sam 9:2-3); but what appeared good on the outside turned out to be rotten on the inside. When Saul was disqualified as king, and Samuel went looking for another candidate among the sons of Jesse, the Lord informed him, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature . . . For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam 16:7).
Psalm 78:70-71, tells us how David was selected as the next king of Israel: “He also chose David His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the ewes that had young He brought him, to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance.” David was just a lowly shepherd, but the Lord described him as “a man after My own heart, who will do all my will” (Acts 13:22).
We have a student arriving from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary to lead our spring revival. There may be some of us who think of students as the underdog, or as individuals lacking significance and influence. Perhaps we’re not expecting much to happen this coming week, as far as a great move of God, genuine revival, and souls being saved; but we must never forget the numerous biblical examples of how God used the underdog for His glory. Therefore, be certain not to underestimate the underdog; but make room in your heart to allow God to great things through whomever He chooses.