Hi how are you all this week? In Australia and in my state Queensland over the last few weeks, there has been a major flood event. I received an email at work asking for volunteers to go to the area to help the flood victims with whatever they need. What would happen if everyone in my work place decided to go? It would mean that our business would shut down and that wouldn’t be good for anyone. Sometimes people have to stay with the stuff instead of going to where the need is.
This reminds me of a story in the Bible of a situation where this happened. It is found in 1 Samuel 30. David and his men had decided to go with the Philistines to fight against the Israelites, but the Philistines didn’t trust them so they went home. But when they got home, they found that their town had been burned and their wives and children taken hostage.
David sought God and God told him to pursue them and that he would overtake them and recover all. They came to a brook and 200 men out of 600 were so weary that they couldn’t go any further. So they stayed there with the stuff whilst the others went on.
After David and his men had recovered everything from the Amalekites, they returned to the brook where the others were waiting for them. Some of the men who had gone on with David were upset because those men were going to receive their share of the spoil. Listen to what David said in verse 24. He said “But as his part is who goes down to the battle,so shall his part be who stays by the supplies; they shall share alike.”
In other words, the people that stay and keep the business running will receive the same reward as those that go. Why is that? Well for one, the business would fold. Two, we aren’t all called to go but some are called to stay and finance the operation. Third, our gifts and talents might lean towards us staying and if we go, we may get in the road. Fourth, we need to seek God and see which group He wants us to be in. Sometimes He will call us to stay and sometimes He will call us to go. But no matter where we are, we must be in the will of God and not just running to meet a need.
This week, seek God and see what He would have you do. Does He want you to stay put this year or does His plan include a season of going. Remember, in God, both positions will receive the same reward. While we are staying put, remember to pray for those who are going and finance them, where God leads.
Have an amazing week and keep living the life God intended for you.
Living the life God intended 