{"id":3639,"date":"2026-02-05T09:04:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T17:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/?p=3639"},"modified":"2026-02-03T20:54:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T04:54:49","slug":"youre-nothing-special","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/?p=3639","title":{"rendered":"You’re Nothing, Special"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(1 Corinthians 1:26-31)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve never seen The Lego Movie, <\/em>or it\u2019s been a while since you have, it\u2019s time to do yourself a favor and watch it. The main character, Emmet, lives a very basic life, until he discovers the \u201cPiece of Resistance.\u201d Unbeknownst to him, a prophecy declared the finder of this item to be \u201cthe Special. Over the course of the movie, Emmet is joined by Master Builders (those with the ability to build without needing any instructions), who help him face the villain, Lord Business, whose goal is to eventually control everything by freezing it into place with his ultimate weapon, the \u201cKragle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is noticeable about Emmet is this: that there\u2019s nothing noticeable about Emmet. He\u2019s as plain as can be. There\u2019s nothing special about him. By society\u2019s standards, he doesn\u2019t stand out. He\u2019s just average – the type of guy others would easily walk all over on their way to achieving the world\u2019s version of success. He\u2019s naive about how ordinary he is until he sees video of others describing him, each of whom concludes that there\u2019s nothing special about him. That realization presents the ongoing conflict throughout the movie, which seeks to reconcile how a nobody can be \u201cthe Special.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s humorous in an animated movie is actually the reality for every believer. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul emphasizes two truths that seem to be at odds with each other, but which can actually stand side by side in Christ. We are nothing. We are special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is the first of those paradoxical statements that has prompted many to lobby against Christianity. They view it as a source of child abuse or trauma, and argue that Christians shouldn\u2019t be able to \u201cbrainwash\u201d children, because it causes them emotional harm and diminishes their self-worth and self-confidence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps that\u2019s how they would interpret these words from Paul: \u201cBrothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth\u201d (v.26). <\/em><\/strong>While it may sound as if Paul is talking down to his readers, he is simply reminding them of all of the merit, achievements, accomplishments, value, importance, etc. that every person naturally brings before God on their own, which is\u2026 none. Nothing. God didn\u2019t come for those who think they\u2019re something apart from him, but for those who know the truth: our sinful self fails to bring anything of value before God, and instead brings only that which is detestable. That may be a hard word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But is the world\u2019s alternative more effective? When children are raised with an inflated sense of self, when they can do no wrong, when parents convince them that they are the top award getter in every category, do those children turn out better? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What happens when they aren\u2019t selected as the class valedictorian? What happens when someone else is awarded the scholarship? What happens when they don\u2019t get hired or get passed over for the promotion by someone more qualified? What happens when their perfect marriage ends in divorce? If raised with an inflated sense of self, if quarantined from failure, if shielded from any adversity, they end up with not just a jaded view of the world, but with question marks about themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Paul\u2019s words provide the proper framework where such disillusionment doesn\u2019t exist. He makes a point of being brutally honest with us from the start, so that we don\u2019t in any way misunderstand why God would choose us. He explains it in more detail. \u201cBut God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things\u2014and the things that are not\u2014to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him\u201d (v.27-29).<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aha! If God wanted to make it clear to man that man could never do right by God on his own, here\u2019s how you do it! Choose the nothings and the nobodies over the somethings and the somebodies! In other words, God passes over those the world might consider to be ideal candidates when picking his team, and chooses the least qualified, so that there\u2019s no question about who\u2019s most deserving – no one! Everyone equally has this in common: nothing to brag about.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much does this go against the way we naturally operate in our world? We are preoccupied with demonstrating to others that we\u2019re something. We need others to know that we\u2019re not just average. We\u2019re not nobodies. We\u2019re not like everyone else. We\u2019re special. And we are determined to let others know. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We post filtered and AI-filtered photos because the real us is too… average. The new car isn\u2019t just a matter of a midlife crisis, but a reminder to others that we\u2019re doing fine financially. The trip is less about where I am traveling and more about others knowing<\/em> that I\u2019m traveling. I share the amazing stuff my company does, not because I\u2019m talking them up so much as I am letting everyone know that I have an amazing job. My kids are in this, that, and the other thing, while yours are glued to screens. Whatever it takes – just so long as you remember that I\u2019m somebody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what do such efforts really demonstrate? Don\u2019t they reveal an inner disbelief in God\u2019s own words? Don\u2019t they express a denial of what God has clearly stated about us – that we were \u201cfoolish,\u201d \u201cweak,\u201d \u201clowly,\u201d \u201cdespised,\u201d \u201cthings that are not?\u201d God says we were all of those things (in addition to calling us dead, blind, enemies elsewhere in Scripture!), yet our lives are a constant hamster wheel of \u201cI\u2019ll show you how wrong you are, God.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may think it’s harmless or inconsequential that we operate this way, with this attitude, but it\u2019s much more serious than that. It is potentially damning. Why? Because what is the root cause of such thinking? \u201cThere\u2019s not really that much wrong with me. I\u2019m really not so bad. I don\u2019t really need help or saving from anyone else – not even you, God. So, you can keep your Jesus, and I\u2019ll just keep on showing in one way or another that I’m not really the type of loser he came for.\u201d Is there any more dangerous place we could ever be than there???<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then stop pushing back against Paul\u2019s words and repent! Acknowledge what he says about you and about me is true. Even on our best day, we don\u2019t come close to attaining the perfection necessary to categorize ourselves as special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, in faith, we can step off the hamster wheel and stop trying to counter our insecurities by proving we\u2019re something to others. God doesn\u2019t need you to be something before he can work in you. God is the one who makes us something in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take that reality one more step and realize what it means if we can’t ever achieve God’s impossible standards. If we could, then he would be obligated <\/em>to pick us for his team. He would have <\/em>to, because we would have met the expected requirements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, since no one (aside from our Substitute, Jesus!) can ever meet those impossible standards, then it can only mean one thing that I was brought into his family of believers: he chose me! God has chosen me because, well\u2026 he wanted to. He loves me! He wasn’t forced or obligated to write my name in his Book of Life; rather, he chose me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am not a believer because he saw potential in me. I am not a believer because God knew I\u2019d make a difference in his kingdom. I\u2019m not a believer because I\u2019m an all-around good guy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m a believer, and you are a believer, because God chose you. And in doing so, he displays to the rest of the unbelieving world that God brings us into his family of faith, not because of our own effort or merit, but because of his grace.\u00a0And here is what that grace means for us: \u201cIt is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,\u00a0who has become for us wisdom from God\u2014that is, our righteousness,\u00a0holiness\u00a0and redemption\u201d (v.30).<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is there any achievement you can unlock that could ever confer on you any title greater than those three – righteous, holy, and redeemed? Never. But that is exactly what you are \u201cin Christ Jesus.\u201d Outside of Christ Jesus? Still \u201cfoolish, weak, lowly, despised, things that are not.\u201d But in <\/em>Christ Jesus? Righteous. Holy. Redeemed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think about those three. Can they be improved upon? If you are already counted righteous, can you become more <\/em>righteous? More <\/em>holy? More <\/em>redeemed? No! You already are those things in Christ. There is no need to level up, no more need to impress, no more need to prove. You are those things right now \u201cin Christ Jesus.\u201d You know what that makes you? Special!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look at the title of this post. Consider the phrase without the comma. \u201cYou\u2019re nothing special.\u201d You\u2019re an Emmet. You don\u2019t bring anything to the table. You don\u2019t stand out. You\u2019re average at best. You\u2019re just\u2026 existing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But insert the comma, and now you have a God-given title and designation. Yes, it still reminds you of who you were on your own (nothing!), but now it also reveals how God views you, how he sees you, who you are to him: you are special. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never forget what accounts for the difference: the comma. The comma makes all the difference, doesn’t it? Well, the comma is Christ. And that means we have something to brag about. \u201cTherefore, as it is written: \u2018Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord\u2019\u201d (v.31).<\/em><\/strong> Not you, not me, but the Lord, who chose those who were nothing and calls us special.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you know what Emmet ends up doing in The Lego Movie? I won\u2019t spoil the ending, but you can probably imagine. While the movie is imaginary, your life isn\u2019t. You are not. You are very much righteous, holy, and redeemed. That qualifies you to do very special things in Christ\u2019s kingdom. If we think otherwise, it\u2019s only because we\u2019re stuck thinking of who we were on our own and not who we are in Christ Jesus.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But when we remember who we are in Christ Jesus, the sky\u2019s the limit. We can do amazing things for his kingdom. Rather, he can do amazing things through us. Emmet is a made-up Lego character in a fictional movie. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are not. You are real. You are special. What special things will God do through you?\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(1 Corinthians 1:26-31) If you\u2019ve never seen The Lego Movie, or it\u2019s been a while since you have, it\u2019s time to do yourself a favor and watch it. The main character, Emmet, lives a very basic life, until he discovers the \u201cPiece of Resistance.\u201d Unbeknownst to him, a prophecy declared the finder of this item… Continue reading You’re Nothing, Special<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1284,65],"tags":[1143,1144,1368,1369,32,284,53,355,5,1367,1370,37,799,354,109,459,36,981,108],"class_list":["post-3639","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-identity-revealed-series","category-sermons","tag-boast","tag-brag","tag-choose","tag-chosen","tag-christ","tag-conversion","tag-grace","tag-guys","tag-jesus","tag-justification","tag-lego","tag-love","tag-nothing","tag-prayers","tag-preaching","tag-sanctification","tag-sermon","tag-special","tag-teaching"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p842FN-WH","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3639","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3639"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3639\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3643,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3639\/revisions\/3643"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3639"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3639"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3639"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}