Stewardship

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Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. 1Peter 5:8 Amplified Bible

If water is to be compared to God’s Holy Spirit, then how can that ever be a bad thing? The answer is found in examining one principal – balance. Two types of situations come to mind for water problems – stagnation and flooding.

The first may be easier to recognize. To become stagnant with God’s Spirit is what happens when we continually receive from God, but never release it into anyone else’s life. The power of God was never intended to stop with any one of us. All that has been freely given to each of us is meant to be reinvested in someone else. That’s what is so beautiful about the imagery of living, flowing, rivers of life. Ever moving and changing whatever is in its path – cleansing, refining, shaping.

I heard a wonderful comparison of two lakes in Israel – one full of numerous marine life and lush vegetation surrounding its shores. The other is a place of desolation with no life inside or out. The first is The Sea Of Galilee, the other is appropriately named The Dead Sea. The defining difference in these two lakes is that one continues to redistribute the waters and the other keeps it all to itself.

The Sea of Galilee pours out its water to many other sources including the Jordan River. But, the Dead Sea releases nothing – the salty and mineral concentration becomes so great that nothing can live or even swim in it. What God pours into us is so powerful that it is intended to be shared. Otherwise, it will pool up and become contaminated with our own thoughts and imperfections.

The flood can be harder to recognize – at least it was for me. It began to come into focus while studying in 2 Samuel a few weeks ago.

14 Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, demanding, "Give me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins." 15 So Ish-Bosheth gave orders and had her taken away from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. 16 Her husband, however, went with her, weeping behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go back home!" So he went back. 2 Samuel 3:14-16

At this time, Saul had been killed and David was anointed King. He had married several times and had many children. So why did he call for Michal to be returned to him? From these verses, we see that she had remarried and was with someone who truly valued her – her husband Paltiel wept and followed her until Abner made him return home. I have to say, this was a new look at David and Michal for me.

Up until now, I have seen Michal as this bitter woman, unresponsive to the moving of the Holy Spirit. (2 Sam 6:16-23). But, right here is the answer for the cause of her bitterness. David had been so focused on his work for the Lord that he was completely blind to the needs and feelings of those in his own family. Michal had been forcibly removed from a home where she was loved and valued only to be returned to David as though a piece of owned property. David wanted her back simply because he thought she was his.

I am not trying to scorn the amazing life that David led for God. He was a man after God’s own heart. But in that passion to serve God, he broke the heart and spirit of those closest to him. We later see that his own children grew bitter to him as well.

This should be a reminder to us that in all things, even serving God, it is important to have balance. Our children, spouses, friends, church family, all those that God has entrusted to us must be considered and valued as the true blessings they are.

It’s not the actual water from the flood that is so damaging – it’s the amount and shear force of it. When we allow our desire to serve God to get so great that it pushes through our families and lives without regard to anything else, that’s when we see damage.

In each endeavor, we need to take a good look at the people around us and make sure we are meeting their needs as well. God’s promises and purposes are for our own good and for the good of those around us. Don’t keep it all to yourself and don’t drown those around you in it. As in all things, God can help us find the right balance.


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