We have a pastor-friend, Joe Coppinger, who many years ago was a student at Talbot Theological Seminary with Josh McDowell (Christian apologist, evangelist, and author/co-author of over 150 books).
Any seminary student or seminary graduate will tell you seminary is difficult. To compound the challenge, most seminarians have to also hold down a job to support themselves/ family.
Joe told us about an idea Josh McDowell had on how he could get the most out of seminary — and enjoy it too. But, it would mean putting God’s faithfulness on the line as well as his own reputation. He conceived the idea to challenge people to support him financially through seminary. He began to challenge people:
“If you’ll help put me through seminary, I promise you I will make something out of my life.”
With this challenge and commitment, Josh would be dependent on God’s people to faithfully support him — and he’d be putting his reputation on the line.
How’d things work out? Not only did God honor Josh’s vulnerability, He elevated Josh McDowell to the unrivaled status of speaking to more high school and college students than anyone in the history of Christianity — not to mention his best-selling books! For nearly 50 years now, Josh has been one of the foremost voices for Christ.
That kind of “stuff” pleases God putting His/our reputation on the line by visibly, tangibly trusting in Him; by having the unbridled presumption of a child.
Assume the faithfulness of God and commit yourself to what you know you are to do. I can promise you this: God never dishonors faith in Him.