Good morning everybody!
1st Samuel chapter 18.
Two options:
1. A life focused completely on God through Jesus. Or
2. A life focused on self. Two results:
1. Eternal life in heaven or
2. Eternal life in hell.
Both options can result in earthly blessings. Both options can result in being respected by men are being hated by men. Being successful or not being successful.
David faced success but he nearly lost his life twice. Paul and Peter and Stephen were blessed in how God used them to impact lives but they faced much persecution even death for some.
Some lives focused on self reap great earthly benefits. They become respected by others because of all their wealth and belongings.
But the bottom line is this: Are you living a life for Christ or self?
Knowing there are only two options I am driven and motivated to want to live for the Lord more and more and less and less for me. Knowing there are only two options I am compelled and desire to reach more people for Jesus because I don't want them to have to face an eternal life apart from God in Hell.
God bless me in such a way that I'm able to reach more people for Jesus, even if it means facing persecution or death.
Verse 12 tells us about Saul’s problem.
“Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.”
Saul was afraid and jealous of David. Jealousy is such an ugly thing. Saul became determined to get rid of David. The funny thing to me is that with each step that he took, it seemed like it just ended up adding more success for David. Even Saul’s own children loved David. Saul just stubbornly kept on wasting his time and effort on eliminating David. Instead of enjoying his life as king, Saul allowed his fear and jealousy to take over his life as he just seemed to become miserably focused on a task that couldn’t be done.
Check out James 3:13-18.
“Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”