Bringing Bread and Cheese
Ponder: Being faithful whether the tasks are large or small.
Scripture: “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10 NKJV).
Wouldn’t you like to do some spectacular deed for God – something people would talk about hundreds of years from now? David faced the Philistine giant Goliath with a sling and five stones (1 Samuel 17) – and he won! How did this come about?
While his brothers were with Saul’s army, David was home tending his father’s sheep. Not an especially glamorous task, you might say. David had been anointed to succeed Saul as king (1 Samuel 16:13). Yet here he was, herding sheep!
David’s next assignment lacked excitement also. Jesse sent him to his brothers with ten loaves of bread plus a gift of ten cheeses for their commander. Let’s see, messenger and delivery boy – those jobs will make you about as famous as herding sheep!
As David humbly and faithfully completed his tasks, Goliath bellowed the same blasphemous challenge that he had been thundering for the last forty days. This time, however, while the others cowered in fear, David volunteered to fight the pagan champion. Defending his father’s sheep from predators had taught him courage and faith. Now, his humble obedience put him in the right place at the right time for God to use him to give Israel a tremendous victory.
You and I may never become famous. That really doesn’t matter. Faithfulness, not fame, is our goal. David teaches us to do our job, whatever it may be, and to do it well. Much of the work of the church, God’s spiritual army, occurs behind the scenes. While performing these necessary tasks, you may even receive unjustified criticism. (David’s brothers accused him of being a glory hound, 1 Samuel 17:28). Just keep doing your job. Look for opportunities to do even more for the Lord. And when those opportunities arise, trust God to work through you.
Song: “Little Is Much When God Is In It”
Prayer: Gracious God, we thank you for the noble work you have given us to do, and pray that You will help us to do it faithfully. Especially we pray for grace that we may be content when we are behind the scenes and not in the spotlight. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Joe Slater (Justin, TX)