Thursday, May 13, 2010

1. Let God Handle It

"My son, who is of my own flesh, is trying to take my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. It may be that the Lord will see my distress and repay me with good for the cursing I am receiving today."

-- 2 Samuel 11b-12

Talk about turning the other cheek! David was King. The Lord's annointed. His son was trying to kill him. Saul's relative, Shimei, was cursing him. And still he wouldn't let his officials do anything about it. He trusted God to handle it. That's impressive.

I'm not sure I could do what David did. How about you? Could you walk away from someone who was cursing you? The man even through stones at David and his men. I'm afraid I would have had something to say. I might even have thrown a stone or two myself. I certainly wouldn't have resisted letting my soldiers teach the man a lesson. But David did the right thing. He trusted God to take care of the situation. And God did. (Shimei later apologized to David.)

The reason David was even at that place was because he was fleeing from his son Absalom, who had started a rebellion against David. Absalom, if you'll recall, was the same son who killed his brother. I wonder if this was pent-up anger at David for refusing to deal with Amnon, another son, after he raped Absalom' sister and David's daughter. Sounds like a soap opera.

Whatever the reason, David -- who was known as a fighter -- refused to fight his son. Just like he refused to kill Saul. He chose to let God handle the situation.

How much better the world would be if we all could do the same. We're so caught up in getting even or punishing someone else that we don't stop and consider what God wants. He has promised that He will right any wrongs done to His children. He has promised to care for us and deliver us from those who seek to destroy us. And God always keeps His promises.

So why can't we take a lesson from David and just let God handle people who are trying to destroy us?

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Cast Idols Aside

"Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless." -- 1 Samual 12:21

All it usually takes is one serious illness, one major car accident or one major heartbreak to put things in perspective. Suddenly, all that gray fades away and we're left with a clear understanding of what really is important. And how insignificant all those things we value truly are.

We seek money. Then more money. Then still a little more money, just in case. And while money helps provide quality medical care, it can't cure an incurable disease. It can't stop a fatal heart attack. It can't sooth a burned body.

Likewise, money can buy us that car we think we can't live without but it can't stop that drunk driver from plowing into us at an intersection and killing our child. That latest cell phone can't stop a robber with a gun. That expensive pair of shoes won't keep us safe if the plane we're on crashes in the ocean.

At the end of it all, those idols of green and gold, those snazzy electronic toys and ego-boosting adornments won't matter. We may lust after them but that can't save us in a crisis. Those things won't comfort us when we find out our spouse is cheating on us with the person we called our best friend. In the dark moments of night, when panic and fear threaten to crush us, God is there. He provides a safe haven, comfort, peace amid turmoil.

How many times each day do each of us "have" to have something we don't really need? How many times do we lust after something someone else has? This goes way beyond economics. I don't care how much money and how many things someone has, he always wants a little more. We all do.

We would do well to remember Samuel's words and keep our minds and desires focused on doing God's will. Imagine the world if we actually did give as Jesus called us to do. We could all do with a little less, so we could give a little more. It just takes pushing those worthless idols aside and trusting God to provide all we really need.