1 Chronicles 5:1-2
“Reuben was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph… and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph.”

We live in a world that values achievement, status, and merit. The prevailing mindset is that you get what you deserve. From childhood, we’re conditioned to believe our worth is tied to accomplishments—good grades, promotions, trophies, and recognition. The idea of a meritocracy, where rewards are based on effort and ability, is deeply ingrained in our thinking.

But God’s kingdom operates on an entirely different principle. It is grace-based. Grace, at its simplest, is anti-meritocratic—“Grace is getting what you do not deserve.”

A Reversal of Expectations

In 1 Chronicles 5:1-3, we see an unexpected shift in inheritance. Traditionally, the firstborn son received a double portion and carried the family name forward. Yet Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, loses his birthright. Perhaps Judah, the strongest of his brothers, could have earned it, but God decided to go with Joseph, a man whose life was marked by rejection and suffering.

Reuben had privilege, but that didn’t secure the blessing. Judah had strength, but that didn’t secure the blessing either. This reveals something crucial: neither privilege nor effort determines whom God chooses to use. By human standards, Reuben or Judah would have been the natural choice. But God doesn’t operate by human standards.

Instead, Joseph becomes the one through whom God works. Why? Because God chooses the least, the unlikely, and the forgotten.

God Can Use Anyone—Including You

Joseph’s story reminds us that God’s calling isn’t based on worldly qualifications. If God could use Joseph—a man despised by his brothers, imprisoned, and at times arrogant—He can use you.

Too often, we disqualify ourselves:
“I’m not good enough.”
“I don’t have the right background.”
“I’ve made too many mistakes.”

But God has never required perfection—only willingness.

If He can use me, He can use you. God’s kingdom isn’t about who deserves His favor, but about who is willing to follow Him in faith.

In God’s kingdom, He makes the unworthy worthy.