“Giving to God what belongs to God” By Diane Webb

“Giving to God what belongs to God” By Diane Webb

1 Samuel 2: 9 “He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.”

We cannot, in our own strength, overcome the wickedness of this world. No matter how wise, intelligent, or emotionally strong we are. Anything we do is through the power of the Holy Spirit leading and guiding us. Anything we have is because God has blessed us with it. If not from God, the gains we make are only illusions--temporary. Sometimes we overlook that the very blessings we are enjoying are because God answered our prayers. It’s wonderful to have prayers answered especially when it’s for something important like a child or a home. The seemingly small answered prayers are special too. Anytime you see the hand of God working in your life it’s an affirmation he will “keep the feet of his saints”. God loves for us to trust him enough to ask him for help throughout the day. The day goes by much better with God’s strength pulling you through. Sometimes we forget to ask for God’s help, guidance, and protection throughout the day. Scheduled, disciplined time with God is important. However, the ongoing dialog with God is special in and of itself. It demonstrates trust and relationship with God to recognize his presence in the mundane tasks of the day. This psalm, written in Samuel, is by Hannah (Keil & Delitzsch) who recognized God’s presence in her life and God’s work in the miracle of birth. She had been childless for many years and felt ostracized by others who had children. She wept and prayed so profusely in the temple the Priest thought she was drunk. When the Priest realized she was not drunk he understood the sincerity of her prayers and he, too, asked God to hear her. God granted her request and she gave birth to Samuel whom she then dedicated to the Lord’s service for the rest of his life. She got the child she prayed for and immediately (when he was weaned) gave him back to God. She, obviously, put her trust in the Lord and recognized he answered her prayers. Did you ever wonder what good it did Hannah to have a child just to give the child up? Was it that important to her to be able to say she had a child? Did it not matter to her if she were able to keep the infant? Was Hannah motivated by pride? On the contrary—Hannah desperately wanted a baby of her own to love, care for, and nurture to adulthood. When her prayer was answered, Hannah demonstrated thankfulness, obedience, and faith when she dedicated Samuel to God’s service. It must have been very difficult to leave her toddler in the care of the Priest. Hannah’s act demonstrates her deep relationship with God. She recognized everything we have already belongs to God. The first of everything gotten most especially was to be given back to God specifically for his service. Hannah respected this spiritual law and was blessed even further. Many Old Testament laws were replaced when Jesus Christ sacrificed himself for us. We are no longer required to kill an animal to God in atonement for our sins. We are not restricted in diet as the Israelites were. Are we still required, however, to give back to God our first fruits? Would it make a difference in how you live or the decisions you make if you did dedicate your first fruits back to God—the first of everything you get? If you believed everything belonged to God anyway, would you worry so much about losing the things you have or the people you love?

Dear heavenly father, help me today to remember that all things belong to you. Help me put my trust in you and cease from worry over those people I care about and the things you have given me. Help me give back to you those things that are already yours. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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