What We Leave Behind

 

         Some days as I work on my 'domestic duties,’ I wonder if anyone even notices. Still, I know if they didn't get done, I wouldn't be able to stand the clutter and mess! Work is work and some days the tasks seem more menial than others, but none the less, absolutely necessary, and complaining about it wouldn’t change a thing!

This kind of thought process lends itself well to the story of little Samuel who helped Eli in the temple.  Samuel’s mother wanted a child so badly and God granted her, her desire.  With a thankful heart, she dedicated him back to God and left him with Eli to raise and train in a Godly manner, in service to God.

I don’t know what chores or duties Eli gave young Samuel, but he was dedicated to doing his best, regardless of what was asked of him.  Even when he thought Eli was calling him in the middle of the night, Samuel didn’t complain in the several times he made the trip into Eli’s room to ask if he was being called.  Eli finally recognized that The Lord was calling out to young Samuel, not him.

Every job was important to Samuel.  Being faithful in these small matters, pleased God and, as Samuel grew, God entrusted him with larger matters; eventually even becoming one of Israel’s greatest prophets.

The same is true with the work the Lord gives us. Sometimes we may ask why this? Will it even matter if I don't do…..? I wonder if asking these questions makes us miss the more important ones like, “What do you want to tell me, Lord?” or “Help me be obedient to your voice.”    Or even “How do you want me to contribute to the Kingdom of God?”  And these are only a few of the questions that may be relevant to being obedient to the voice of God, like Samuel was, especially if we aren’t sure what we are supposed to be doing or wondering if a change is coming.

When we are obedient to God’s voice (or nudging) we are demonstrating our love for him.  To be fruitful, however, our belief in what God desires, requires giving all our strength to whatever task is at hand.  It means willingly offering our time, talents and gifts, and our resources to the assignment, mission, undertaking or ‘chore’ (especially if it’s something we’d rather not be doing), we have been asked to carry out.

During this time of unprecedented turmoil due to the COVID pandemic and political discontent, it’s even more important to be aware of what he is teaching us.  We need to be diligent in our ‘listening’ as God speaks, guides and instructs us in the way we should go.  Do we respond with, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening?” as Eli instructed Samuel in 1 Samuel 3?  Or as Mary said when she found out she was going to be carrying the baby Jesus, “I am the servant of the Lord; May it be unto me as according to your word,” found in Luke 1:38?

These duties we have carried out are seen by others and are demonstrations of our devotion to the One True God.  This is what we leave behind.  What greater mission and blessing, than obedience, can there be? 

photo credit:  free pictures of cleaning