Don't Miss Your Party

Lately I've been going through Beth Moore's David study. It's grrrrreat! A few days ago I read a story in I Samuel (10:17-27) that I've never heard before...or at least don't remember. It caused me to laugh out loud! So, I must share. The basic premise is that Samuel had just anointed Saul as king after the Israelites demanded to have an earthly authority rather than just depending on God. So Samuel gathered everyone up, reminded them of all the wonderful things God had done for them, and then there was apparently supposed to be this climactic moment where the newly crowned king gallantly strides on to center stage to do the royal wave and display his kingliness while the crowd goes wild (at least that's how I imagine it). But instead the people said, "Is there a man still to come?" Saul didn't show up at his own party! God knew exactly where Saul was, and he told the people. "Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage." And so, the people ran and grabbed Saul from his hiding place and drug him up in front of everyone. He was head and shoulders taller than everyone else! Samuel turned to the Israelites and said, "Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people." Interesting choice of words for one who was just drug out of hiding by his own kingdom. Most people were still excited to have a king and treated Saul with all the respect, fanfare, and gifts that a new king would deserve. But a few men despised Saul to his face and did not honor him with gifts. And Saul kept his mouth shut.

Saul was hand picked by God and had size, looks, an adoring and excited kingdom, and an anointing from Samuel and yet he lacked one thing...confidence. And that one thing nearly cost him his self-respect right from the beginning. I laughed when I read this story because it sounded so ridiculous! A king is supposed to be a courageous, brave, gallant leader. Not hiding with the suitcases! But then I realized how often I let my lack of confidence and my fears get in the way of what God is trying to do with me. And every time I feel exactly like Saul - ridiculous, ashamed, withdrawn.

Beth Moore called Saul a people pleaser. She stated that "self-consciousness constitutes the opposite of God-consciousness. Rather than gratefully rejoicing in the privilege God was freely extending to him, Saul's concern ran to himself and what others think of him." Saul was operating completely out of the flesh. Throughout his reign, you can see glimpses of hope, but mostly his life reflects a lack of confidence and a desire to please man.

When feeling the pull to please man, ask yourself these questions: Am I trying to please man or God? Am I filled with worry and doubt, or with peace? Living a life filled with eye service for the sake of pleasing man will only bring about worry and doubt. God desires obedience with a sincere heart out of respect and reverence for Him (Colossians 3:22).

"Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ." Galatians 1:10