What are you going to do with your life?

What Are You Going To Do With Your Life?

1 Samuel 16: 6-13

David’s story:

Israel had rejected God to be king over them. The people of Israel came to Samuel the prophet to demand a king so that they would be like the other nations. Samuel warned them about kings, he told them that this is a bad idea, that kings will take their property, possessions, children, and make them slaves (1 Samuel 8). The people rejected Samuel’s warning and God provided them with a king, a man named Saul (1 Samuel 10). At this time, Israelite and the Philistines had some disagreement going on and they were constantly at war. God will later tell Saul to destroy the Amalekites because they did not let Israel pass through when God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt. God will tell Saul to not spare anything, but to kill the men, women, children, and livestock (1 Samuel 15). So Saul went and defeated the Amalekites, but he spared the King and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs and all that was good (1 Samuel 15: 9). Because of Saul’s disobedience, God rejected him from being King (1 Samuel 15: 23).

1 Samuel 16: 6-13:

When they came, he looked on Eliab and though, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.” But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said. “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these. Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.”

This would be the start of David’s incredible journey. Not long after this meeting, David will work for Saul, kill Goliath, and eventually became King.

My story:

I knew what I was going to do. When I was a little, I wanted to be a scientist or an astronaut. I wanted to wear the white lab coat or the space suit. As I grew older, Lego became my inspiration. I wanted to build. When I got into high school, I had it all figured out. I enjoyed being a part of life1, FCA, and church. I went on several mission trips, taught several devotions, and sang several songs. I will eventually surrender to the ministry. I had it all planned out. I will graduate high school, graduate from college, and then graduate seminary. I will then spend the rest of my life ministering to people at a church where I also lead worship, impacting and changing people’s life. I had my life all planned out.

And then I went to college...

I started my freshmen year with an applied mathematics major. I figured that if I wanted to major in something, I might as well major in something I was good at. However, the more I think about the future the more uncertain it became. I started asking questions like, “What can I do with a mathematics degree?”, “What kind of career do I want to be in?”, “Do I go to grad school or seminary?”, “How can I minister to people with a math degree?”, “Do I need to change my major?”, “Do I need to change school?”, “Will I ever get married?” All this time, I knew that I have surrendered to the ministry and thought that because of that many of these questions were answered. Until I realized that ministry doesn’t only mean being a preacher or a worship leader. Ministry is counseling, encouraging, caring, loving, sharing, witnessing, forgiving, etc… Whether it is working at a non-profit organization that helps starving children in Africa, teaching Sunday school, leading worship, or bringing Christ to whomever wherever you go, all of it is part of ministry. So instead of feeling more confident, I became more and more confused. I started asking, “What am I going to do with my life?”

The message:

What does David’s story has to do with my (or maybe your) story?

David’s story and my (our) story are actually very similar. What is interesting about David is that he did not become King right at the moment. We actually see that when Saul called for David, David was with his sheep. This means that when David received this incredible promise, he actually went back and took care of his sheep! We don’t know how much time David was taking care of his sheep before he started to see the promise became true. It might have been days, weeks, months, or even years. As time went on, David might have started to wonder if the promise is really true or not. He might have even asked himself, “Why am I taking care of sheep when I am anointed as king?”

Just like David, we (who have been saved by His grace) have been presented a promise just as magnificent, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare (peace) and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29: 11).” It might have been days, weeks, months, or even years when we have read that verse. Maybe we have started to wonder if the promise is really true or not. We might have even asked ourselves, “What am I doing here? What am I going to do with my life?”

So what must we do? What did David do? What am I going to do with my life?

1. David excelled in the revealed things.

David went back and did what he knows to do, taking care of his sheep. Later you will see that because of that experience, David will have the courage to take on Goliath. God has revealed some things to us (Deuteronomy 29: 29). There are some things that we know to do; the Bible will even tell us that “this is the will of God.” Things like abstaining from sexual immorality, encouraging the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient, don’t encourage revenge, doing good to others, rejoice always, pray without ceasing, thanks always, etc… (1 Thessalonians 4, 5). Are we worrying about the future or are we trying to excel in the revealed things of God while we are waiting?

2. David prayed.

As we know, David wrote many psalms. If we read through the psalms, they are not only songs, but also prayers to God. David prayed when he was victorious, he prayed when he lost, he prayed when he is happy, and he prayed when the bottom fell out of his life (Psalms 142). David “prayed without ceasing.” Are we praying (Philippians 4:6)?

3. David is chasing after God.

If we know anything about David, you would know that he is known as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13: 22). David followed after God with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength. He had one goal in mind; to know God and make him known (1 Samuel 17: 46, Isaiah 26: 8). Are we worrying about what we can accomplish in this world or do we have sight on things that are eternal? He is no fool to give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose – Jim Elliot.

David excelled in the reveal things. David prayed. David chased after God. Maybe we are doubting the promises of God. Maybe we are confused and worried. “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up (Galatians 6: 9).” Let us seek first the kingdom and the righteousness of God, let us focus on delighting ourselves in him, let us fix our eyes on Him, for He promised perfect peace and that our desires and everything else will be added unto us (Matthew 6: 33, Psalms 37: 4, Isaiah 26: 3).

Maybe the question is not, "What am I going to do with my life?"

Maybe the question is, "What can I do now?"