Scripture Setting: I Samuel 9 & 10
Saul was a good man, better than the best, taller than others, and daddy's favorite son. Kish entrusted Saul the task of going out to look for the family's lost herd of donkeys because he knew he would get the job done with all due diligence and speed. He was just that kind of man. His father knew what he was capable of, and that he understood the importance of securing the family's assets for their continued livelihood.
True to form, Saul searched everywhere for days, but could not find them. Knowing his father would be worried, he made the decision to return home, give Kish an update, then continue with the search. His traveling companion and assistant (a servant), knowing the territory, informed him they should take advantage of a local seer (prophet) by the name of Samuel who could tell them where the donkeys were without searching any further. Saul agreed and the servant produced an offering, because even in that day, very few gave away information without a price.
Saul eventually gets to visit the Samuel who immediately tells them the donkeys have been found, and invites him to have dinner with him as an honored guest. All's well that ends well, right? Story over, lets all go home! Before you check out of this story, watch what happens....
The next morning the seer woke Saul up from his warm comfy bed and drug him out to the city limits. At the city gates, Samuel stopped Saul with these words, "Stand still that I may show thee the word of God." Now we know the rest of the story, we know that Saul was anointed to be King of Israel. After a new set of instructions, Saul departed and did exactly as Samuel had instructed him to do. By the way, the donkeys were right where they were supposed to be by the time he returned home.
It is our human nature to seek the answers and solutions to everything we face in our lives. As single adults, we have an entirely different set of issues than we did as teenagers. Whether single-never-married, single again, or widowed, we all have questions at the forefront of our minds that we seek answers to:
* What does the future hold for me?
* What is God's will for me?
* Will my children be okay having just one parent to see to their needs?
* Will all my bills get paid?
* Are there any good men/women left in this world?
* Does God even care that I am struggling to do and be everything to everyone?
* The economy is not looking good, what if I lose my job(s)?
* Will I ever re-marry?
* Will I be hurt again?
* Maybe there's something wrong with me, why is everyone else getting blessed and not me?
* My health isn't good. Who will take care of ME?
We seek solutions to these questions, even to the point of seeking out gifted men of God hoping for a "direct word or prophecy" concerning our lives. If we do receive prophetic encouragement, and it does not come to pass,in the time-frame we think it should, we move on to the next prophet seeking our next "fix". Someone to give us answers to all the questions that overwhelm us at times. We are so worried about the cares of life that we fail to see what is going on in the background, what God has for us to do for HIM.
We search endlessly for the perfect mate by either hoping God is just going to drop them down in front of us so that we can't miss it or we frantically travel around to all the singles events hoping to meet Mr./Mrs. Right. We think we have to look and act a certain way to gain someone's attention. The more foolhardy of individuals might even compromise our standards and morals or leave the church entirely just so we do not have to wait on God to supply our needs. Instead we rush ahead on our own, thinking our course of action is right for us without giving God full control of our lives. Sound familiar???
Today, I want all of us to stop worrying about all the donkeys in our life! We don't need a prophet to constantly tell us the next direction to take. We just need the WORD OF GOD. God has already told us everything we need to know, every direction to take, every promise...its in the WORD OF GOD.
Need a seer? Hit the book! Need to get rid of the donkeys in your life? Do-it-yourself, step by step instructions are in the pages of the best-selling self-help book of all time. Want to be a King in the Kingdom? Check out opportunities for ministry and service both in your church and community for the KING OF KINGS.
So, you wanted a word from God today....here it is: Get to the house of God, hear and heed the word delivered by the man of God which is meat and drink for every soul, then go and DO what you are told to do. It's that simple. The donkeys are right where they are supposed to be. They have been found. So, there's nothing preventing you from doing what the word of God says. Ready? Set? GO!
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