Then, turning to Shimei, David vowed, “Your life will be spared. …
I’ve decided that you and Ziba will divide your land equally between you. …
Come across with me and live in Jerusalem,” the king said to Barzillai. “I will take care of you there.” …
— 2 Samuel 19:18-39
I regularly reflect on people of influence in my life.
Typically, we call them role models and heroes.
Each of the ones in my life share(d) a passionate love for Jesus. They inspired me as I witnessed the Holy Spirit work in and through their lives in unique and special ways.
They encouraged me by their example to keep my eyes on Jesus, the one who empowers us to advance the Kingdom.
David was just such a leader.
He inspired. He called people to a faith in God, a surrender to God that would enable them to experience great victories.
He certainly was distracted from time to time, but as we see in this passage, the qualities of mercy, wisdom and generosity were the pattern.
He was God’s anointed empowered by God’s spirit to change his world.
What is the spiritual temperature of our leadership these days?
We are connected in many ways to many different people.
Those are places of influence. Leadership is influence.
On our own, our influence is at best good for a lifetime.
Submitted to God, our influence can touch eternity.
Are we seeing the fruit of things like mercy, wisdom and generosity being produced in our lives? If not, why not?
Ask!
That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”
— 1 Kings 3:5
Birthdays, holidays, anniversaries and other special occasions are particularly stressful in my little world.
It doesn’t matter how much time I spend thinking about what to do when these events are nearing, I always end up in the same place — a state of confusion.
I don’t ever get it right. Several years ago, I decided to start asking. What do you want? What would you like to do? Where would you like to go? Who do you want to see?
Chirp, chirp, nothing but crickets.
I beg. I plead, but still no help. Oh, well, there’s always next year.
In the Bible, asking is an ongoing theme.
God routinely asked people questions as well as asked them to do something.
Amazingly, he invites people to ask him questions, too — and, as in the story involving Solomon, to ask him for something and/or for him to do something.
He appeared to Solomon in a dream and asked him what he wanted. What?! Basically, Solomon had carte blanche to ask God for ANYTHING! He chose … (drum roll, please!) … wisdom.
And guess what? God gave it to him along with many other blessings.
Jesus told us to never stop asking, seeking and knocking.
So, why do we stop?
James, Jesus’ brother, affirmed that wisdom is a wonderful thing to ask God to provide. He even promises it will be given when asked in faith. That’s fantastic news! So, why don’t we ask for it?
James also tells us that we have not because we ask not.
How crazy is that!?
We miss out on divine intervention only because we don’t ask!?
Why!? Why don’t we ask?
Let’s make it more personal. Why don’t YOU ask? Why don’t I ask?
The provision of God is on the other side of the ask.
Wiles is senior minister of Fall Creek Christian Church in Pendleton. He can be reached at 765-778-3166.
