“Service is the rent we pay to be living. It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time.” ~ Marian Wright EdelmanSome people are born to serve…the gift of hospitality is the very essence of their being. They salivate at the very thought of being able to do something for someone…somewhere. No matter how big or small, they will always accept the task before them. Many times, I feel the people with this gift are so often taken for granted…and I’ve seen so many take advantage of those with this gift. All the while, there are others who simply serve…and then, there are those who desire to be served. I fall somewhere in the latter of the two categories…with the balance of the scales leaning closer to the last.
Young David’s life was a portrait of service. With each stroke of the brush, the canvas came alive with opportunities for service that brought brilliant color to an otherwise colorless existence. With each of these acts of kindness, the portrait became more three dimensional…the colors, more spectacular…the profile, lifelike.
I Samuel Chapter 17 is a classic Bible story that has spanned the ages. For centuries, children have been told of the little boy who killed the giant with a sling and a rock. And we as adults, have allowed this one dimensional view of this passage of Scripture to define the battle of good vs evil in a climatic scene where evil appears destined win, only to have the obvious underdog stand victorious in the end. But I honestly feel that we fail to see a major characteristic that screams loudly in this character tour. David’s gift of service speaks volumes about the fabric that lines his very soul.
Picture this typical young boy, hurrying down the road to take bread, grain and cheese to the battle front where his two oldest brothers fight in the king’s army. And with haste…haste, David runs to follow his father’s direction. Haste! Where is this zeal in today’s society? We’ve fast become a ‘Me, Me, Me’ centered culture, instead of David’s classic ‘You, You, You’ civilization.
If only we would obey our Heavenly Father with as much haste as David did his earthly father…
...to be continued.
1 comment:
Service is indeed a gift for some. I know our church "miraculously" stays clean in all areas that we dwell each Sunday, all due to the gift of service from one or two people out of church of hundreds. But, aside from being a gift, service, just like witnessing, is a Biblical call for all of God's children. Great post. Keep it coming!
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