Consulting God

One of the primary roles given to husbands is to be the leader of the family. Some men naturally have a gift to lead. They have a charismatic personality, they are knowledgeable, decisive and convincing. Then there are others that are on the opposite spectrum of those qualities. Resources for improving your leadership skills abound in our culture and developing and improving our leadership skills is something that we should all aspire towards.

But regardless of how competent or confident you are as a leader, there will come a time when all your expertise, knowledge, and wisdom are of no use. Great leader or not, we all fall victim to the fact that we cannot see the future and what lies beyond today. So in those situations, what are we to do as men tasked with leading our families into the unknown future? Let's study some events from the life of one of the Bible's best leaders, David.

When we catch up with David in 2 Samuel 2, he has already been leading a group of loyal men, and he himself has become a mighty warrior and a experienced military leader. David learns of the death of King Saul, his father-in-law who has been attempting to kill him for many years. The only man standing in the way of him claiming the throne of Israel and fulfilling the promise spoken over him is out of the picture.

But the first thing that scripture records that David does is he consults God.

In the course of time, David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The Lord said, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron,” the Lord answered. - 2 Samuel 2:1

Put yourself in David's shoes. David is by far the most popular person in all of Israel, he has led the Israel army into victory after victory, and he already has a sizable militia under his command. He also has been anointed king by the last great prophet of Israel. In the current situation, many advisors may have told him that he should immediately pronounce himself as King and immediately challenge anyone else who claimed leadership of Israel.

But David does not do that, rather than rush to claiming the throne, David inquires of the Lord. He fully surrenders himself to the will of God trusting that God will be faithful to fulfill the promises over his life. David is sought after by the people of Judah and anointed King over their tribe.

Next time we see him in 2 Samuel 5, David has become king over all Israel. The Philistines hear about this change of leadership and want to attack Israel during this transition period. Scripture notes again that David inquired of the Lord. After defeating the Philistines once, they gather again to attack.

so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” 25 So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. - 2 Samuel 5: 23- 25

David could have relied on past experience, and the confidence that he had already defeated these enemies once in the same exact place. But David's constant inquiries of the Lord and willingness to surrender to God's commands show us the secret to success as a leader.

Success as a leader comes from being willing to be led by an all-knowing God. It comes from acknowledging that our own skills, intuition, experience are all severely lacking in light of the much higher plans of God for us and our families.

Applying this principle, in uncertain situations and before life-altering decisions is not the place to begin. It comes from the daily practice of being led by God's Spirit, and surrendering your plans, desires and decisions to an omniscient God. You must test God's counsel and wisdom in the mundane and ordinary. Reliance and trust is a step by step process, that starts with God demonstrating to you time and again that his ways are always better.

Reflection Questions:

1. In what decision-making instances has my experience, intuition, or judgement failed?

2. What decisions this week did I miss an opportunity to ask for God's guidance?

3. Am I building the habit of inquiring of God's guidance in the minuscule and mundane? Am I training myself to hear his voice?

Cheerful Giving: By the Grace of God

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor[b] of taking part in the relief of the saints - 2 Corinthians 8: 1-4

In 2 Corinthians Chapters 8 - 10, Paul encourages the Corinthian church to prepare a gift for their fellow believers that are need. He starts off by giving them an example of the generosity that the Macedonian church was able to display.

The Grace to Give

Paul starts of his example, by giving God the glory for lavishing upon the Macedonian church a certain "grace" to give. God is the one that has stirred up their spirit and willingness to give under circumstances that are not necessarily conducive to generosity. According to human wisdom, it is impossible to imagine that the trials faced by the Macedonian church (extreme poverty and severe test of affliction) would result in a wealth of generosity and eagerness to give to the saints in Jerusalem. But this is precisely why God says that this is a God-given grace poured out on the Macedonian church.

So as the Macedonian church gives out of their poverty, God is glorified. But how?

First, God demonstrates to the Macedonian church his ability to supply all of their needs even in times of extreme poverty. He allows them a chance to grow in their trust of Him. He who feeds the birds of the air, and clothes the grass of the field is sufficient for all their needs as well.

Second, he demonstrates to the neighboring churches what Spirit empowered humility and and love looks like. It is a love that nullifies the natural tendency of the love of money and security, It is a humility, that echoes the very humility that Christ demonstrated when he left his heavenly abode and all its luxuries. The Macedonian church full embody the verses of Philippians 2:3,4

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. - Philippians 2:3,4

Third, God demonstrates to the world what sort of community, and unity awaits them if they likewise join the body of Christ. The individuals of the Macedonian church probably had never met any other members of the believers in Jerusalem. Yet, through Christ they have come to the realization that they are fellow brothers and sisters and redeemed by the same Blood of Christ. It is a unity that transcends geographical, cultural and ethnic differences.

Through all these God is glorified, because in Him and through His Grace, though there may be poverty and severe tests of affliction there is also lavished a divine grace that brings an abundance of joy. Impossible? Yes. But through God and only through God, the impossible starts to look very probable.

The Old Man & The Sea

By: Ernest Hemingway

Read: October 2023