Scripture

Our verse for today comes from 1 Samuel 9:5, ” When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, ‘Come, let us return, or my father will stop caring about the donkeys and become worried about us.’ ” 

Background

Last night I saw a video where two guys were riding in a car, and the driver was a famous celebrity who owns many, many cars. The one that they happened to be in was impressive and stylish, but not in the class of the Porsche, Mercedes, Rolls Royce, or Lamborghini that he had driven at other times. So the passenger asked his buddy if the car they were in was the kind of car where he would get upset if he wrecked it. The friend had known this celebrity a long time, long enough to where he said he knew him back when he had only one car. But he wanted to see where this particular car fit on his list of beloved automobiles. So after a pause, the rich comedian replied, ” Who’s not upset when they wreck a car? ” Now besides being a funny line, that’s a pretty good point. Regardless of our level of attachment to and affinity for our possessions, and in particular, our car, one would be hard-pressed to not be upset on some level upon the wrecking of his car. Even if you owned a couple dozen of them, when you’re in a wreck, there’s going to be an emotional response of some kind. 

Application

Saul’s situation was just the opposite. He was out looking for his dad’s lost donkeys for so long that he wanted to return home before his dad forgot about the donkeys and started worrying about him. That feels a little more spiritual, doesn’t it? Fretting over sons rather than donkeys, or cars. But the car thing strikes a chord, even if cars don’t do it for you. Perhaps it’s something less tangible, like a preference or a habit. Maybe it’s something grander, like a lifestyle or a philosophy. But is there within you that Lamborghini that you could never imagine giving up, not even for Jesus? I hope you’ve turned over your inventory and signed everything over to Him. If not, there will always be a little reluctance when you sing certain hymns, or read certain verses. You’ll feel the hesitation and the ever so slight sense of dread when the time comes, whenever that is. Does that sound like eternal life to you? 

Charge

As we seek Him today, consider the cars and donkeys in your life that have no eternal value, and put some time into those who do. 

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words