Trapped on the Toilet Table? God Has Turned the Tables for You!ಮಾದರಿ

The Boardroom Table & the Good Shepherd's Table

‘The Apprentice’ is a popular show that features the infamous ‘boardroom table’ where Lord Alan Sugar sends many failed contestants home, growling ‘you’re fired’ as he points his finger in their faces. At the boardroom table, you have to stand your ground and throw your fellow contestants under the bus to remain in the competition. Contestants become enemies - and cringe-worthy straplines fly around, as people talk nonsense in a desperate attempt to retain their seat at the table. Two of my favourite examples of such are ‘Everything I touch turns to sold.’ And ‘I can taste success in my spit when I wake up’. (Delightful!)

God’s kingdom, thankfully, does not come furnished with a boardroom table. We don’t need to big ourselves up or attempt to outdo others. We sit around God’s table in a loving community who help one another to grow and thrive, and thankfully, God will never fire us for our failures.

There’s a beautiful table mentioned in Psalm 23:5 which says ‘You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies.’ What strikes me about this is that God prepares the table. God rolls up his sleeves, sets the table, washes the dishes, chops the veggies, and makes the dinner preparations ready for David. What an incredible God we serve - a God who serves us first! And it doesn’t end there - this table set by Almighty God is in the presence of David’s enemies. In ancient biblical culture, a dinner host was responsible for protecting their guests from harm from all enemies. David’s enemies look on as he dines with his good shepherd, and David has no fear of being harmed by them.

This table, unlike the boardroom table, highlights that we do not need to fight to prove our worth to others. God is the host with the most. He serves up a fine dinner in our honour, while our enemies who have caused us grief and fear sit and watch, powerless to ruin the tenderness of this table. We don’t need to big ourselves up or throw others under the bus to get ahead. Let’s sit at the table prepared by our good shepherd and thank him for his goodness, provision, and protection. I'll take the Lord our Shepherd's table over Lord Alan Sugar's table any day!

Reflection

Are you striving in your relationship with God? Trying to impress him, or scared you’ll be fired for your failures?

He is your good shepherd, accept his invite to dine with him - don’t strive, thrive!