Small on a Mission

Small on a Mission

January 29, 2018

1  Samuel 15:17  ". . .Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel. . . ?"

Before Israel ever had a king, there was a boy who grew into the young man named Saul. Saul never sought out to be the first king over Israel, and was completely unsuspecting of the opportunity. He was not from the biggest or most influential tribe and his family wasn't significant. He had not made a name for himself in life, nor did he come from a particularly wealthy position. In the days leading  up to his encounter with the prophet Samuel, who anointed him king over Israel, Saul was on an errand for his father, looking for three lost donkeys. Not ironic, Saul was chasing the foolish and stubborn animals on an errand that normally a hired hand would accomplish. He was on a small mission. It was a humble task not fitting for someone about to be king. But he bumped into Samuel on the journey, and Samuel anointed him king. Saul was insecure about the idea of being a king, arguing with Samuel that Saul's stature and position in life was too small for kingly duties. Nonetheless, the Lord had a mission for him, a mission to become king and lead the nation of Israel. Small was now on a real mission.

Saul became king and started out doing very well. Over the years however, he developed a pattern of trying to lead on his own accord, as he saw fit. He tried to do things his way, despite clear instructions from the Lord on how to accomplish specific tasks. The man who once considered himself small and insignificant was now too big for his throne, thinking he could actually lead on his own authority. This wore thin on the Lord's patience, as well as the prophet Samuel's. The pattern however, did not improve despite corrective attempts from the Lord. Saul was no longer small in his own eyes. During a major battle on behalf of the Lord, Saul was given specific instructions. Saul did not follow the instructions fully, though the shortcomings did not seem significant to him. He was told to destroy all the people and their possessions, but he kept the best of the possessions intending to sacrifice them to the Lord. When questioned about it, Saul suggest it was a good idea, but he didn't get it. It wasn't about a good idea, it was about his obedience to the Lord. 

Samuel chastised Saul, reminding him that Saul was once small in his own eyes and that the Lord had a mission for him. Saul was falling short of that mission, short of leading as the Lord asked of him because he was now too big for himself. Saul had become arrogant and insolent. He viewed himself more important than the mission. Small was no longer on a mission. Small was no longer small.

You may think you are small, possibly insignificant, but even if that's the case, the Lord can still use you in mighty ways. In fact, the Lord appreciates a significant degree of humility, requiring you to depend upon Him. This ensures you're more apt to follow His instructions, doing things His way. The Lord had to rebuke Saul, even rejecting him as king, because he was no longer small in his own eyes. The Lord took Saul's mission away from him and gave it to someone else. Whether you can admit it, the Lord has a mission for your life and you may be on it right now, however small you think of yourself. That mission is critical, but only as critical as it depends on your ability to lean on the Lord, doing things His way. A sure fire way to get the Lord to reject you is to become too big in your own eyes. Small should stay small and on a mission.   

Don't take my word for it; look it up: 2 Sam 1 Sam 9:1-21, 1 Sam 13:5-14, 1 Sam 15, Pr 16:25-26, 1 Tim 4:12