"Football is not a matter of life and death, it is more important than that."
Dealing with defeat
So they nominated two men: Joseph called Justus Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, "LORD, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. Acts 1:23-26The disciples decided that they needed to replace Judas and found two suitable candidates and Matthias was selected. Have you ever wondered what happened to Barsabbas? He isn’t mentioned again. How did he take the defeat? I was recently talking to an American athlete who came fourth in the US Olympic Trials by 2 hundredths of a second. The first three qualified for the US Olympic team; he did not.
There is no criticism of Justus Barsabbas. He was a suitable candidate. He fulfilled the criteria. He has been with Jesus throughout his ministry and was a witness to the resurrection. He would have been a fine choice; it was just that Matthias was more suitable.
The passage tells us nothing of Justus Barsabbas’ feelings or how he coped. We all know that failure and rejection are never easy. Caroline Fletcher*, whose comments on this passage inspired me, wonders if he would have mentioned not getting the job in his Christmas letter to friends! Nothing is known of Justus Barsabbas except that perhaps the Judas Barsabbas mentioned in Acts 15:22 might have been his brother.
Failing to make an Olympic team is part of life for an athlete just as applying for a job and not getting it is part of life. How we deal with disappointments is what defines us as people. As Christians we know that God is with us in the disappointments and can use us through the experience and beyond.
*Caroline Fletcher, Encounter with God, 30 May 2020