FAITH CAPSULE: Why or what is the reason you are looking into God’s gift to your neighbor?
1 Samuel 8
God knows better, He knows what is good in His giving. Be satisfied with God’s gift in your life rather than looking into neighbor’s gift with envious mind. It is important to be at rest with God’s gift in your life instead of looking into your neighbor’s God gift. The Israelites looked outside of God’s gift that was in place for them. God gave the children of Israel judges to rule over them as a nation while the neighboring nations had kings. Seeing this, the children of Israel wanted a change; the children of Israelites wanted to have king and be like neighboring nations. The Israelites’ looking outside of God’s gift was rejecting what God wants for them. The Israelites approached Samuel the prophet and judge of Israel, “Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the LORD. (1 Samuel 8:4-6) The request of the children of Israel was based on the fact that they wanted to have king like their neighboring nations.
The Israelites’ request for king in the place of judges before God was not a pleasant one before God. The Israelites’ request was the evidence of their lack of sincerity and loyalty for God that was always answering with best response over their life.
Are you looking into your neighbor’s portion rather than looking up to God with thanksgiving for God’s gift in your life? Through Samuel, God responded to the Israelites, “And the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.” (1 Samuel 8:7-9) Why or what is the reason you are looking into God’s gift to your neighbor? Can it be that you are one that is never satisfied? Appreciate God for His entire gift in your life. We are better with God’s gift rather than looking into neighbor’s gift. Accept His gift with lasting appreciation. Reject rejecting God’s gift for in your life.
Payer for today: Ask God for the grace of lasting appreciation to His hand of gift in your life.