I have been reading about the life of David recently and he was in a similar situation with King Saul.  In 1 Samuel 16 it says that Saul loved David greatly and he became his armor bearer.  (v.21) Then after both men are coming back from a victorious war the people gave more love to David than Saul.  Actually they were just stating the facts.  1 Samuel 18:7 Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very angry and he eyed David from that day forward. (v.7-9)  Saul was just being a hater!  A friend of mine has a saying, “if you have a life, you don’t have time to hate!”  David was just doing his job and the people took notice and it made Saul feel insecure about his own abilities.

Well, I’m sure you are dying to know how I responded in the situation?  I did absolutely nothing!  I have put my trust in the Lord.  He is more than able to get me to where He wants me to be in spite of the haters that are around trying to bring me down.  If you are in a similar situation I want to leave you with the words of Paul who had to deal with a lot of heartbreak in his life.  Galatians 6:9 Do not grow weary in doing good, for in due season you shall reap if you do not give up.

I pray that God will give you the courage and character to respond to the haters that are in your life the way that would bring honor to Him.

We all hate to look like a fool.  But is it such a bad thing?  In God’s economy fools are actually better off.  1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no one decieve himself.  If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.  Say What?  What is Paul trying to say to us here?

Basically, I thought it was wise to go out and purchase a lottery ticket in the hopes of winning it big, when in reality I had a better chance of death by a vending machine, death by a bee sting or death by an asteroid apocalypse.  That is why Paul went on to say in 1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God.  God must have been looking down from heaven thinking how foolish so many of us are trying to gain what we cannot keep when we should be focused on what we need to lose in order to have it all.

All the money in the world cannot by us happiness or more importantly holiness.  God wants us to be holy because He himself is holy.  While I was a little disappointed that I did not win, I realize that had I won, I’m not so sure it would have helped me to become more holy or happy.

God help me to be content with what you have blessed me with.

Instead of pointing out all the reasons why this sitcom is ridiculous and shouldn’t have been put on the air in the first place, I think we need to focus on another issue.  The fact that this script can be written at all is cause for us to take a hard look at our lives and do some self-assessment.  Have you been the kind of person to spread gossip or rumors about someone else? See its easy to be appalled that this show is being aired on television, but its harder to realize that the only reason it was able to air is because its partly true.

Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

This morning as I was coming out of Starbucks, I noticed that I had something stuck under my windshield wiper.  I pulled it out and saw that it was a parking ticket.  What!  I do this every morning and I have never gotten a ticket!  I was actually angry that a person would actually take the time out that early in the morning to give me a ticket.  How dare they?  Well, I quess I am illegally parked.  The spot that is most convenient to me is a bus loading zone.  I know that no buses run that early so I figured whats the harm?

Often times this is the same attitude we have towards sinful behavior in our lives.  We just fall into the habit of doing it, knowing all along that it is wrong, but we figure, “I’m not hurting anyone, so its OK.”  Then when someone like the Pastor of a friend points out the area of sin in our lives we respond with anger.  How dare you point out my sin!  Who are you to judge me?  Is there something that you have gotten into the habit of doing that needs to change?  Has someone pointed it out and you didn’t respond properly?

So here is the lesson that I learned today.  I need to do everything as if I am doing it for the Lord.  That means obeying the laws at all times, even when its more convenient for me to break them.  And we all need to take inventory of our lives and see if there is an area that we have gotten into the habit of overlooking.  Then confess it to God and ask for His forgiveness and “go and sin no more!”

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

John 8:11 Neither do I condemn you; go and from now on sin no more.

A good friend of mine wrote a poem intitled: Legacy.  As you read this, just spend some time honestly answering some of the questions that the poet brings to light. 

What kind of legacy will I leave?  What will people say of me?

When I am no longer around, when my bones are underground;

What will they say?  What will they say of me?

Will they remember a godly man?  Will they say that I followed the Master’s plan?

Or will they hang their head in shame, and say I brought reproach to His Name?

What will they say?  What will they say of me? 

CHORUS:

Let it be said that I followed Jesus.

Let it be said that I conformed to the image of God’s Son.

Let it be said that I was faithful.

For faithful is He, Who started a work in me, which He will perfect in eternity.

What will my family say of me, When they give a witness publicly,

Of how I lived in privacy, where only they could see?

What will they say?  What will they say of me?

Will they say that I lived righteously?  Led a life of integrity?

Or will they only laugh at me and say my life was hypocrisy?

What will they say?  What will they say of me?

CHORUS:

Let it be said that I followed Jesus.

Let it be said that I conformed to the image of God’s Son.

Let it be said that I was faithful.

For faithful is He, Who started a work in me, which He will perfect in eternity.

What will Jesus say of me, Before the throng in eternity;

When I stand before His throne, and He makes my secrets known?

What will He say?  What will He say of me?

Will He say “Well done my son, you have been a faithful one?”

Or will He say, “Depart from Me, to condemnation eternally?”

What will He say?  What will He say of me?

CHORUS:

Let it be said that I followed Jesus.

Let it be said that I conformed to the image of God’s Son.

Let it be said that I was faithful.

For faithful is He, Who started a work in me, which He will perfect in eternity.

What will people say of you, When your life is finally through?

You know they’re watching every day, to see if you’re following the way!

What will they say?  What will they say of you?

Will they say you were a holy one, a faithful follower of God’s Son?

Or will they say you were a fraud, you only spoke of following God?

What will they say?  What will they say of you?

CHORUS:

Let it be said that you followed Jesus.

Let it be said that you conformed to the image of God’s Son.

Let it be said that you was faithful.

For faithful is He, Who started a work in thee, which He will perfect in eternity.

 (Fouad Farris)