Hope Springs Eternal
By John Davidson, EVI President
Every Spring near the end of February all Major League Baseball teams begin what is known as "spring training." Some of them gather in Florida, while others get together in Arizona. As the players from each team begin to assemble, they see old faces who have been with the team for many years, as well as new draft picks and players who have been traded to their team. No matter the record of last year’s team, the hope of the players for a winning season "springs eternal." Likewise during the winter months the upper management of the team may have hired a new team manager. The players and coaches might talk amongst themselves wondering if things will be as they were last season. Will the sign be the same to steal second base? What about the food in the clubhouse before the game? How about the dress code for the bus ride to the airport? As king David grew to be an old man, he made the decision to give up his throne to his son Solomon. After many years of being king, David understood what it would take for Solomon to be a great king. David wanted Solomon to be not only a great king, but to be the kind of king that God would want him to be. "And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind:" (2 Chronicles 28:9, KJV) Solomon would not be just a politician, he must be a statesman. He could not just be the one in charge, but he must show that he was a good, fair and honest man. And as the spiritual leader of Israel, Solomon could not just teach about God and God's righteousness, he needed to be a living example |
to the people. "The God of Israel has spoken; the protector of Israel said to me: 'The king who rules with justice, who rules in obedience to God, is like the sun shining on a cloudless dawn, the sun that makes the grass sparkle after rain." (2 Samuel 23:3,4, GNB)
Upon becoming king, Solomon had to begin making choices and decisions. Solomon originally honored God as David his father had done. Seamlessly the kingdom went from one ruler to the next. Solomon knew that God had given him a huge responsibility and in his heart, he wanted to fulfill all that the Lord wanted him to do.
The Lord knew Solomon's heart as He knows all of our hearts. Solomon was searching for God with all of his heart, to lead him in all of his paths. What about us? Are we willing to be led by God? "And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13. KJV. God wants each one of us to diligently search for Him.
The Bible reveals to us that after some days of worship at Gibeon, the Lord came to Solomon in the night. God asked Solomon "Ask what I shall give thee." Oh, the list of things that could have been asked for, but Solomon asked for the best. What a prayer! "Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?" (2 Chronicles 1:7, 10, KJV) Those of us who are in a position of trust should offer up this prayer daily. As we go about our daily duties, this prayer should be on our lips.
"Those who today occupy positions of trust should seek to learn the lesson taught by Solomon's prayer. The higher the position a man occupies, the greater the responsibility that he has to bear, the wider will be the influence that he exerts and the greater his need of dependence on God. Ever should he remember that with the call to work comes the call to walk circumspectly before his fellow men. He is to stand before God in the attitude of a learner. Position does not give holiness of character. It is by honoring God and obeying His commands that a man is made truly great." PK30
As we continually ask God to work in our lives, in any "new season" that He may put before us, our prayer should be that God will give us the wisdom to do whatever small or large thing He asks. May my eternal prayer be, "Give me now wisdom and knowledge...be my ‘Upper Management’."
Upon becoming king, Solomon had to begin making choices and decisions. Solomon originally honored God as David his father had done. Seamlessly the kingdom went from one ruler to the next. Solomon knew that God had given him a huge responsibility and in his heart, he wanted to fulfill all that the Lord wanted him to do.
The Lord knew Solomon's heart as He knows all of our hearts. Solomon was searching for God with all of his heart, to lead him in all of his paths. What about us? Are we willing to be led by God? "And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13. KJV. God wants each one of us to diligently search for Him.
The Bible reveals to us that after some days of worship at Gibeon, the Lord came to Solomon in the night. God asked Solomon "Ask what I shall give thee." Oh, the list of things that could have been asked for, but Solomon asked for the best. What a prayer! "Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?" (2 Chronicles 1:7, 10, KJV) Those of us who are in a position of trust should offer up this prayer daily. As we go about our daily duties, this prayer should be on our lips.
"Those who today occupy positions of trust should seek to learn the lesson taught by Solomon's prayer. The higher the position a man occupies, the greater the responsibility that he has to bear, the wider will be the influence that he exerts and the greater his need of dependence on God. Ever should he remember that with the call to work comes the call to walk circumspectly before his fellow men. He is to stand before God in the attitude of a learner. Position does not give holiness of character. It is by honoring God and obeying His commands that a man is made truly great." PK30
As we continually ask God to work in our lives, in any "new season" that He may put before us, our prayer should be that God will give us the wisdom to do whatever small or large thing He asks. May my eternal prayer be, "Give me now wisdom and knowledge...be my ‘Upper Management’."