At certain times in our lives, we sometimes come across some great opportunities for jobs or income, which is highly financially rewarding, and often times, we interpret such opportunities as God's answer to our prayers. But upon closer examination such job or income is from an activitiy that is not pleasing with the LORD. Hence, we should reject such offer or opportunity even though it may cause us a financial opportunity loss. Sometimes God is testing us, and he is trying to see if we shall go to bad or nefarious ways of making an income, or if we will stick with the good and decent ways of earning a living. It is a choice between good and bad. Let us ask for wisdom and guidance from our LORD when making some key decisions. Lord God, our Provider, please grant me the wisdom to discern opportunities before me and the faith to follow your way, that I might always do what pleases You.
Text: 1 Samuel 24:1-7 NIV - New International Version
1 After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.”
2 So Saul took three thousand able young men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.
3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.
4 The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.
6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.”
7 With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
[From Our Daily Bread] The offer looked good, and was exactly what Peter needed. After being laid off, this sole breadwinner of a young family had prayed desperately for a job. “Surely this is God’s answer to your prayers,” his friends suggested.
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Reading about the prospective employer, however, Peter felt uneasy. The company invested in suspicious businesses and had been flagged for corruption. In the end, Peter rejected the offer, though it was painful to do so. “I believe God wants me to do the right thing,” he shared with me. “I just have to trust He will provide for me.”
Peter was reminded of the account of David meeting Saul in a cave. It seemed like he was being given the perfect opportunity to kill the man hunting him down, but David resisted. “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing . . . for he is the anointed of the Lord,” he reasoned (1 Samuel 24:6). David was careful to distinguish between his own interpretation of events and God’s command to obey His instruction and do the right thing.
Instead of always trying to look for “signs” in certain situations, let’s look to God and His truth for wisdom and guidance to discern what lies before us. He will help us do what’s right in His eyes. - By Leslie Koh
[From Commentary] Twice David spared King Saul’s life—first as recorded in 1 Samuel 24:1–10 and again as described in chapter 26. The setting in chapter 24 is a large cave in the wilderness of En Gedi. This cave is one among many in the region, some large enough to hold thousands. Saul and his soldiers were pursuing David with the intent of killing him when Saul stopped to relieve himself in the very cave where David and his six hundred men were hiding. In chapter 26, Saul continued to pursue David. Once again, David was close enough to take Saul’s life but showed him the mercy that the king lacked. - by Alyson Kieda
[From me] At certain times in our lives, we sometimes come across some great opportunities for jobs or income, which is highly financially rewarding, and often times, we interpret such opportunities as God's answer to our prayers. But upon closer examination such job or income is from an activitiy that is not pleasing with the LORD. Hence, we should reject such offer or opportunity even though it may cause us a financial opportunity loss. Sometimes God is testing us, and he is trying to see if we shall go to bad or nefarious ways of making an income, or if we will stick with the good and decent ways of earning a living. It is a choice between good and bad. Lord God, our Provider, please grant me the wisdom to discern opportunities before me and the faith to follow your way, that I might always do what pleases You.
March 26, 2023
