God chooses the broken to confound the whole, the foolish to shame the wise, the poor to astound the rich, the base and the despised to shame the honorable, and the weak to humble the strong. God chooses and exalts what men tend to reject and despise (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

The Stone the Builders Rejected Has Become the Capstone! 
Psalm 118:22-23 (ESV) The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. [23] This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

Inspired by text above (and Jesus' quotation of it in Matthew 21:42), The Urban Ministry Institute has formulated a precise vision regarding God's selection and preparation of urban leaders. We believe that this text captures the gist of God's intention to raise up laborers for His harvest among the urban poor.

Jesus Himself is the Pattern For Urban Leadership Development
Most scholars believe this to be a proverb, but with a huge amount of an ironic twist: a stone (we are not told which one) that was originally rejected for building purposes by the very builders themselves winds up not simply being remarkably useful in the process. No, this stone despised by the builders (we are not told why they rejected it, either) turns out on further inspection to be the chief cornerstone, often called the bondstone or the capstone, the corner of the foundation, the crowning stone of all. In light of the plain NT references, this text has primary allusion to Christ.** Jesus, the Stone of Stumbling for the so-called "builders" in Israel who rejected His lordship, has now been exalted through the anointing and election of God. As the Stone laid in Zion by Yahweh Himself, Jesus is the Capstone, the Chief and Precious Cornerstone, Whom believed in and relied upon never disappoints (Isaiah 28.16).

This powerful messianic prophecy has a corollary truth conjoined to it that lies at the heart of both the Old and New Testament citations about God's choice and our rejection of it. A principle emerges that illustrates the complexity of God's divine irony in leadership selection. This principle clearly reveals the precise nature of God's choice of men and women to represent Him.

God's Choice of the Poor
God chooses the broken to confound the whole, the foolish to shame the wise, the poor to astound the rich, the based and the despised to shame the honorable, and the weak to humble the strong. God chooses and exalts what men tend to reject and despise (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29). Throughout church history, this principle proves to be true. Only the Lord can determine what vessels he will use for the honor of his Son, and the advancement of his Kingdom. It is his choice alone; and, whomever he elects, so does he empower and direct!

Affirm God's Call to Leadership
This is the heart of the irony of God's use of men and women, and is testified in virtually every narrative involving God's choice. While people tend to look on the appearance of a person, the external background, history, training, pedigree, socioeconomic background, education, and other notable phenomena, God looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Whomever God calls and empowers accomplishes His task, and He tends to select those who even the most experienced find detestable. The strength and wisdom of God are best displayed through human vessels which are weak and foolish, and His grace is made perfect through weakness. Those people who appear to be useless, even to the keenest eye of the most experienced builders, may easily become the select vessel of God, not merely to make an exceedingly useful contribution, but through His grace and preparation, may even become the very cornerstone of God's enterprise. This is the heart of the divine irony of God's selection of His leaders.

** Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:4,7