Last week, I flipped open the Bible hoping to get some kind of wisdom to light my way, and I read a couple chapters in 1 Samuel about the many chances David was seemingly presented in order to kill King Saul while the latter monarch was out constantly trying to kill him. It's almost comical. First, Saul goes to sleep in a cave where David and his men are hanging out; later, Saul chooses the one cave where David is hiding to enjoy his private bowel movement. Can you imagine lying still and quiet right next to the illustrious king while he's doing his business in the dark? Finally, David creeps into Saul's camp, gets all the way into the tent, and he still doesn't kill Saul. Because Saul was "the Lord's anointed," and David trusted that God would take care of Saul Himself. He didn't have to take matters into his own hands and bring sin upon himself.
I thought about how often I'll look at some opportunity that the Lord seemingly drops in my lap, and then I just assume that He wants to give me a gift, and I grab at it--not asking whether it's wise or sinful. It just looks good and easy, so I go for it. David chose not to sin and kill Saul even though it looked like God was repeatedly handing Saul's life over to David for an easy assassination. David waited and chose to suffer for years (choosing hardship for his family and men as well), then God exalted David and brought him into leadership over the country at the appointed time. I admire David's steadfastness and want to look at new opportunities presented to me...slowly. I don't want to kill any Sauls before their time, you might say (or I might).
2 comments:
how do i know if it is a real gift that i should receive_and_use_accordingly or i should wait ( that it is not for me to use yet)?
The simplest answer I know is also hard to obey--that is, to wait upon the Lord and keep seeking Him until He makes it more clear that He's calling you to move forward...or not. It's a hard teaching at times, but if you're not feeling liberty (peace from the Holy Spirit), waiting is the best thing to do. It's the sort of thing that slaves do when they're unsure what their master would want. There are some things, of course, that God doesn't call me to wait about, like someone offering a bowl of ice cream. He gives liberty to some and constraint to others, and I believe that He makes it clear to both what's OK to say yes to quickly. For me, I have liberty, for the moment, about ice cream. I don't have that liberty, at this time, to make a major career change or move to a new city. Hope this helps.
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