King David learned an important lesson every leader must learn if he is to ensure God's continual blessing. He knew why God blessed him. It wasn't because he deserved it, though he was a man who sought God with his whole heart. It wasn't because of his great skill, though he was a great military strategist. It wasn't because he was perfect. Most of us who profess Christ as Saviour and God as our Father haven't come close to having done what David did. He did hideous things. He did horrible and awful things. No, it was for none of these reasons.
God blessed David for the "sake of His people Israel."
As a people most of us are so focused on the one-to-one connections of our actions and an associated outcome. That is why Christians have such a love/hate relationship with God's forgiveness, mercy, grace and the conditions of our relationship with God the Father. We want to have been and continue to be an active participant in His patting us on the back. We want to believe the healthy Christians are "more" sanctified, more spiritual, better people. And, in fact we might have subjective proof that this is true. But no...it is not a universal truth of how God responds to you and I while we walk this earthly realm. God never blesses an individual just for that person's exclusive benefit.
God calls each of us to be a blessing to others. Specifically, like David, God calls you to a people. Who are those people you are called to bless? Who are those you are called to serve and love and care for in a unique and special way?
You might be unsettled and dissatisfied in your life because you haven't attached to the "who" you are to bless and serve. People often lose sight of their life purpose because they think of it in terms of "me," and "my calling," and "my purpose."
R.G. LeTourneau, a wealthy Christian businessman who built heavy construction equipment, came to realize this only after God took him through massive trials. Once the Lord had LeTourneau focused on the purpose to which God had called him, he came to realize that the question wasn't whether he gave 10 percent of what the Lord gave him. Rather, the question was, "What amount does He want me to keep?" LeTourneau was known for giving 90 percent of his income toward the end of his career and was a great supporter of world missions. Why? His calling, the one God associated with the success he had allowed R.G. to achieve, was to a "who I am to serve?" His "who" was missions! And, so it is with all of us who are called in Christ Jesus. Your serving may not be financial.
Your ministry discovery might be with your personal gifts. Yours might be through specific talents and learned and honed skills you have obtained through your life. But the blessing follows the serving. The peace and joy does as well.
What is happening with the spiritual fruit of God's blessing on your life? Is it clogged at the root of the tree? Or, is it freely growing and feeding others? Ask the Lord to free you to be a blessing to those in your circle of influence; to those He reveals are yours to love in unique and special ways!
I remain...
InHISgrip,
~J~
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