Monday, November 10, 2008

Overflow or Outward Show???

Great note from Kim...

"When the men were returning home after David had killed the Phillistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. As they danced, they sang:
'Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands.'
Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. 'They have credited David with tens of thousands,' he thought, 'but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?' And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David."
1Samuel 18: 6-9

Saul wanted the credit and praise! How dare they sing David's name alongside his own- he was King! He wanted the women singing to acknowledge him and him alone or at least to admit he was the more powerful one!! What would people think? Would they want David as their king?

Why do we do what we do? Do we want the credit and praise?
Why do we give to the church? Do we want everyone to know how giving we are?
Why do we feed the hungry or clothe the poor? Do we want to look good to others?
Why do we give to fundraisers? Or send cards to people? To make sure everyone likes
us?
Are we concerned that we be seen as better than the next person?
Are we envious of others who seem more gifted than ourselves?

Whew- it can be exhausting when we are so concerned about what others think about us! It is so draining!!! Will others talk about us? Probably, but we can't control what others will say or do. And it takes up too much energy to try! We also don't want to become someone we aren't just so others will think well of us. It will become increasingly more and more difficult to keep all those balls in the air, giving everyone what they want! What a relief to put all the balls down and just be what God intended for you! We aren't the best in everyone's eyes but we are the apple of His Eye!! You are His Royal Child!!!

Heavenly King, we are so selfish, we want the world to revolve around us! Please forgive our arrogance! May we learn from Your Example and become servants! May everything we do be out of love, not for others to see!

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