Remaining Faithful
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We are starting a four-week series today called “Change.” In this series, we’ll learn how to be agents of change for God by looking at some lives of biblical characters who made their mark on society. Hopefully, you will learn how you can have boldness for any task that you’re faced with, even when it may be difficult.
David
David
In the Bible, there is a young man named David. David ends up being a central figure throughout the Old Testament. But his greatness didn’t just land in his lap. He allowed God to prepare him through what seemed like meaningless tasks.
By remaining faithful to the small things, David was able to overcome some giant stuff. No, literally a giant.
Samuel
Samuel
We first hear about this boy named David in 1 Samuel 16 when the most powerful man in Israel, Samuel-a prophet and priest, was looking for the next king to oversee their nation.
Samuel is directed to a specific family that had seven boys. Samuel instructs the father, Jesse, to bring all of his boys out so that he can look for the next king.
Samuel saw the eldest son and thought, Surely this is the next king the Lord has chosen. But God replies, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Well, not really, but what he said has the same meaning.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
He said, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him.
This happens seven times as each son walks up to Samuel, one by one, and gets rejected.
Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.”
“Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”
So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes.
And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”
Picked Last
Picked Last
Jesse didn’t even have his youngest son, David, join the catwalk because he already excluded him because of his age, his height, and his daily duties. He was a shepherd. He sat around, watching sheep, playing his harp. He was useless.
His brothers, they were warriors, they were strong and mighty, perfect candidates for the next kingship.
Goliath
Goliath
A short time later, there was a Philistine named Goliath who was challenging the Israelites. He’s yelling curse words, taunting the Israelites to send someone over to fight him one-on-one. Oh yeah, he was over 9 feet tall. Think Preston and add 2.5 feet. A big man.
This goes on for over a month while David’s three older brothers are with the king’s army, doing nothing. David’s dad sends him out the Israelites camp to take some food to his brothers. As David arrives, he is in disbelief that they would allow Goliath to disrespect Israel, but more importantly, the God of Israel. David is furious.
Let’s pick up the story in chapter 17.
David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”
And these men gave David the same reply. They said, “Yes, that is the reward for killing him.”
*one of the kings daughters for a wife and waive the man’s family’s taxes for life.
And these men gave David the same reply. They said, “Yes, that is the reward for killing him.”
But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!”
“What have I done now?” David replied. “I was only asking a question!” He walked over to some others and asked them the same thing and received the same answer. Then David’s question was reported to King Saul, and the king sent for him.
“Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”
So David hangs his head in shame and walks away. The end.
NO!
That’s not what happens. God has been preparing David for this exact moment. David was a hard worker with personal integrity and faithfully served in the seemingly pointless and repetitive day-to-day tasks.
Listen to David’s reply. This is amazing!
But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”
Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”
That’s the moral of the story. That’s what made David a mighty man of valor. That’s the depth of his greatness.
He killed a giant, cut his head off, and paraded through the streets with his head still in his hand.
Big deal.
David remained faithful, regardless of how insignificant the task. That’s a big deal.
Before we close chapel service today, I’ve got a video clip that helps illustrate this thought.
Karate Kid - It’s All Kung Fu clip.
It’s all Kung Fu
It’s all Kung Fu
Dre is unaware that the very act of being faithful in what he was instructed to do will eventually help him in his desire to do kung fu.
Many of us will not see God do something overwhelming every time we pray or read the Bible, but he is shaping us into people who are always ready to faithfully follow him, no matter how difficult the task may be.
When we realize that what we have in front of us can prepare us for what God eventually has for us, we’re unstoppable.
Big Idea of the Message: God forms and shapes you in your daily habits.
Application Point: Developing habits like prayer, faithfulness, and generosity at a young age will position you to be the type of person that makes real change.
Let’s pray.