The preoccupation of the Obama administration condemning the “upper 1%” in our society is staggering. Now that I have your attention, let me offer you a different perspective on all of this by asking a few simple questions.
Does our society almost worship sports figures you are in the sub-1% when it comes to super-human athletic ability? No.
Do we heap criticism on the fantastic singing ability of some among us, or on others who display equally gifted abilities with other forms of music? No.
Do we complain that our family doctor is too smart when it comes to diagnosing what is ailing us, or heap praise and thanksgiving on our medical professionals when they adeptly make us well? Mind you, these people most likely graduated in the upper 1% of their classes. No, we don’t.
Do we put down the young men and women in our society who feel such a deep regard for our nation that they willingly volunteer to serve in our armed forces? They too are in a different 1%, and no we do not criticize their patriotism.
By now, I am certain that you have captured the gist of my perspective. God created all of us with tailor-made special gifts and abilities. We are not all identically equipped, thank goodness! I do not want the captain flying the airplane I am on to be the guy who graduated in the 34th percentile of his class any more than I want to listen to an hour of American Idol with singers in the 25th to 35th percentile. Let’s face it, the singers that make the show interesting are those in the top 1% and those in the bottom 1% !
Given that God Almighty designed us to be outstanding performers in our own respective 1% categories, I’ll leave it to you to answer my opening question. He who would condemn the 1% are really proclaiming a deep resentment toward the way God designed his creation.
I Corinthians 7:7 …But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
I Corinthians 12:4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
Ephesians 4:11-12 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.
To condemn the 1% among us is equivalent to celebrating mediocrity and sameness. May it never be!
I challenge each and every one of us to seek out and find, then polish and continually strive to perfect the 1% characteristics which God so carefully sowed into our individual lives. And keeping all things in balance, then give God the glory.
