Is There Not A Cause?

Text: I Samuel 17:29b Is there not a cause?

?Introduction:

?David had been anointed the next king of Israel by Samuel and returned to the sheep of his father. His three oldest brothers were in Saul’s army against the Philistines. When Jesse, David’s father, sent him with supplies for his brothers, he witnessed Goliath challenging the army of Israel to send a champion to fight against him. David was infuriated to hear the Philistine giant cursing the God of Israel and said so. When his oldest brother angrily rebuked him, David asked the question- Is there not a cause? We too can ask ourselves – do we have a cause.?

As Christians, we state that Christ is preeminent. He is not just great, nor number one – but He Himself is the cause above all causes. The entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments, speak of Him. Is He our cause? This is more than simply going through the motions of being a “good Christian.” We can say the right things, go to the right places, wear the “right clothes,” sing Christian songs, and almost live life on automatic. We find Jesus sets the following challenge before us: Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Spirit), teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.?

His cause will keep us on the right course:

We can often get distracted. Most often, when we get off course, it is not necessarily bad things that demand our attention. We get attracted to good things, things which are not evil or bad, but things that are not the very best things. We are spending our time and our energy and resources on second-best rather than the very best things.

His cause will keep us on right priorities:

We should analyze our use of such resources as time, effort, energy, emotions and money. If I state that family is my priority, but I spend so much time at work that I have no time for family, am I using my time wisely? Some will substitute getting money to give to the family, but should we not give ourselves? If Jesus is preeminent, how is this reflected in the resources that I use to raise up His priority for me?

?God gives everyone certain talents which can be used for Him. He gives us a time, a specific family, and our location, language skills, etc. Are we using them wisely?

?His cause requires sacrifice:

?David put his life at risk to defeat the giant Goliath. He was willing to pay with his life if necessary. Later in life, he gave a very clear illustration of the requirement of sacrifice. Israel was under punishment for David’s sin of numbering the people. The death angel was killing many Jews. David went to Araunah to obtain sacrificial animals and build an altar. Araunah offered the place as an offering to the king, but David refused to accept it on those terms. 2 Samuel 24:24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price; neither will I offer burnt-offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing, So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for 50 shekels of silver.

God’s causes requires more than the energy of the flesh

David said to Goliath: I Samuel 17:45 Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear and with a shield: but I come in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand, and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee, and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.?

Often, we become weary with the difficulties and the energy required to follow God. But God may very well have a purpose for the weariness and the difficulties in making us more like His Son. The apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 12, asked God to remove a thorn in the flesh. But God told him that the thorn was to keep him humble, and that God’s glory is made manifest in our weakness. Paul then praised the Lord for even the difficulties. When we can emerge victorious in our own strength, we get the glory. When it is obvious that it is God and not us, then God gets the glory, as He did when He enabled David to defeat Goliath.?

His cause is eternal:

David’s battle that day still speaks to us today. Of all the events in the Bible, this story is one of the best known and still encourages believers today. When we are in God’s cause, we tie ourselves into the eternal. I John 2:17 The world passeth away, and the lusts thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. God’s calendar is not the same as ours. He is eternal, and His plans are eternal. The question should not be if God is fitting into my calendar of priorities, but whether I am fitting into His calendar. May we make the commitment to His priorities and His schedule, not ours.

?