Saturday, September 27, 2008

Hurts the most

28 When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle."

 29 "Now what have I done?" said David. "Can't I even speak?" 30 He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before.
1 Samuel 17:28-30

Yesterday I asked about the giant standing before you mocking you, sometimes we don't have to look very far to find them. You don't expect it to come from those closest to you, but it does. Especially when you start to pursue the things of God you will be misunderstood by even those who are close.

Why would they?

1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
James 1:1-3

Eliab was possibly jealous that God had anointed David instead of him. I've seen that one in ministry; even felt the jealousy at times. He questioned David's motives, accused him of pride and neglecting his duties. I've been there.

When you start to pursue the things of God you will be persecuted, that's a promise, and don't be surprised if they come from the people you are least likely
to suspect, those closest. Probably because they can see what God is doing in you and they don't have it, so they become jealous and will start to pick at anything.

So what do you do?

David was humble, he did not argue or seek to defend himself, even though he had the right. He also didn't insult his brother. I've blown that one a few times!

Instead of trying to change the minds of those who had already written him off, he turned to others who would follow. Not everyone will go with you as a leader, lead those that choose to follow, what's the saying "lead sheep, don't corral goats"?

Have courage to pursue the things of God, even if no one else will and they mock you for it!

If you're the one that is feeling the jealousy, James says that you don't have because you don't ask and that even when you do ask your motives are wrong.

Stop questioning other people's motives, most of the time I'm not sure of my own, so how can I question others.

Ask God to reveal your motives, turn from those selfish desires, pursue God, be faithful with the things he does give you and then ask.

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