Why Me

I don't have a perfect life, but mine is about as good as it gets. I've never been hungry for an entire day except by choice. I too many clothes, multiple pairs of shoes, and several boxes of books. I get to attend a private university where I'm majoring in something that I love. My material assets alone may not be unusual for an American, but my luck doesn't end there. My parents are married, and I have a beautiful family that loves me. Growing up, I knew both sets of my grandparents, and I had cousins nearby. I've had at least one good friend every year of my life, I've been to the beach a hundred times, and my mom read me everything from Seuss to Dickens. Even compared to most American kids, I've had a pretty splendid life. As a Christian, I know that all of these blessings are for rot if I don't know Jesus. The thing is, apparently, I got lucky there too. I happened to be born into an environment where I heard about Jesus and had the opportunity to check Him out for myself. All of this good luck leads me to ask, "why me?"

See, I know that my circumstances or more than just luck or chance. I didn't "just happen" to be born into the world where, when, and to whom I was. All of this was part of a bigger design by a personal God. I know that every blessing and joy I've experienced is a gift from this God (James 1:17). I also know that I don't deserve this life anymore than the thousands of forced prostitutes living in the slums Calcutta deserve their life. So, once again I ask, why me? Why wasn't I a sex-slave in India, or an aborted baby in China, or born to a broken, atheistic home in America? Why was I the lucky one?

 I wonder if Israel ever asked the same question. Why God? Why are we your chosen nation? I don't know why Israel was chosen, but I know what it was chosen for. In Exodus 19:6, God describes Israel's role as a priest to the nations. Israel was blessed so that it could be a blessing.

 I don't know why I was chosen to hear about Jesus, receive an education, or experience love. Maybe,like Israel, the question is not why God chose me, but what He chose me for. Israel knew God so that it could be a priest to the nations. Maybe, I know Jesus so that I can share Him with the nations. Israel was blessed so that it could be a blessing. Perhaps, I am blessed so that I can bless others. Maybe, instead of asking, "why me?" I should say, "You've chosen me. What now?"