Articles
A Daily Choice
Going through our daily schedules ensures that every day goes to a similar beat and will flow into the next. However, our lives will seem very different from what they are today when we reflect weeks, months, or even years at a time. With reflection can come the thought, “how did I manage to make it through that?” Matthew 6:34 in the Bible tells us that each day is not the same because every day has its own struggles. Every person has to choose the way she or he will respond toward the struggles of any particular day. Will the response be from a worldly stand point or a Godly one?
The difference between a righteous and worldly response can be seen in the way King Saul and his son, Jonathan, treat David in the book of 1 Samuel. Saul, the first king of Israel trespassed against God, as a result, the Lord chose David to be king following Saul’s death. After returning from battle against the Philistines, women were singing, “Saul has struck down his thousands and David his ten thousands”(1 Samuel 18:7 ESV). Rather than embracing the celebration of the destruction of the Philistine army, Saul chose to focus on his rival David. Saul grew in envy and anger at the thought of David’s growing fame with the people of Israel. God claimed victory for Israel, but Saul chose to focus on the worldly victory he wanted over his perceived enemy.
From a worldly perspective, Johnathan would have had every right to see David as his enemy. David was going to receive the throne that would have gone to Johnathan, since he was Saul’s first born son. Yet, Johnathan chose to look past the physical situation in order to see the Godly perspective. David was bringing glory to God and carrying out His will. What could be more important than that? In 1 Samuel 23: 17, Jonathan chooses to strengthen David’s relationship with God for this very reason. Jonathan encouraged David by saying that Saul will not be able to find him and by giving him the reassurance that he will be the next king of Israel. Since David stood with the Lord, Jonathan chose to stand by him.
Jesus affirms that God will supply us with our daily bread in the Lord’s Prayer. God will provide for His children that choose to turn to Him. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul explains that God’s children should embrace His goodness by rejoicing and giving thanks to Him through prayer in all circumstances. God will strengthen us through our struggles and provide our daily bread, but we must be proactive in our relationship with Him. By being doers of His word and not hearers only, we will be able to utilize God’s teachings through the expected and unexpected battles of each day..
