(Biblical Ministry success II)
"Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, “Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on down to Gilgal.” 1 Samuel 15:12 NIV I cried when I read the above, and this... “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the Lord all that night.1 Samuel 15:11 NIV God had given Saul an assignment to attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. He said "do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’ ”1 Samuel 15:3 NIV Despite the specific instructions God had given him, Saul had kept the king and choice animals alive because, in his own words, he “was afraid of the men.." and so gave in to them.1 Samuel 15:24 NIV Fear of disapproval. A strong feeling of vulnerability and inadequacy that makes many feel a need for the (assumed) safety offered by the acceptance of men. Fear made Saul more preoccupied with making the people happy with him than obeying the Lord. He feared the people would see what he already "knew" - he was not up to the task of King. You see Saul had been made king of Israel as a young man. This was not because he deserved it, but because God chose him. At the time, he did not think he was up to it. He was according to Samuel the prophet .."small in his own eyes". But what followed revealed an ongoing struggle with insecurity by a man who relied heavily on the approval of others for self worth. This feeling of smallness was actually never an issue with God. God already knew Saul could not do it himself. That in fact is the purpose of an anointing. Anointed in those days, meant to be chosen ceremoniously by having oil poured on the head. The oil signified God's spirit was with that one to fulfill the defined purpose. It meant this man had God backing and enabling him to fulfill the assignment. Israel knew what the anointing meant, the prophets knew what it meant and Saul knew what it meant. So, he actually had nothing to fear or hide. The real problem therefore was not that of ignorance or inadequacy, it was a problem of trust. God's acceptance just wasn't enough for Saul. His approval, wisdom and praise was not enough; Saul felt he needed more. God was not enough. It is one thing to know God and know his will or purpose for our lives but it is another thing to trust him enough to trust his love, wisdom and process. When God gives an assignment, a job or call, he always has the 'how' he wants for us to do or be it. But he is not a 'user'. God chooses us for a particular assignment because it is 'tied to our reason for existing'- our specific purpose.
God loves us enough to help us fulfill our purpose. His pleasure (and glory) is that we have accomplished what we were designed and placed on earth for. He also knows that without his guidance we cannot effectively and rightly accomplish our assignment. For this reason, he empowers us with his presence and guides us with his directions. However, for God to be able to help us, we have to trust his ability, love and intentions. When we do this, and his trust and love become our focus, fear gets driven out. Trust is both a decision and a process of growth in any relationship. It requires the effort of all parties concerned. If we decide to make intimacy with God our focus, our understanding of the depths of his love will grow. When love is perfected, trust(faith) grows; we can then truly follow His guidance and directions without any need for external approval or fear of disapproval. This in turn protects the purity of the steps we take as given by Him in fulfilling his purpose for our lives.
Because, for God, it's never just about the results, it is about our heart and oneness with him in the process.
It is about the purity of the process.
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18 NIV