DISCUSSION
Why
is it that the grass always looks greener on the other side? Don’t we always
seem to think everyone else has it so much better than we do? Take for instance
the nation of Israel, they had been
surviving fine under the leadership of the judges. It wasn’t perfect, but as
long as there were godly judges, the people seemed to follow in their
footsteps. When there wasn’t good leadership, the people swayed. It was getting
to the end of Samuel’s reign as judge and the people began to get antsy. The
elders of the nation asked Samuel to appoint for them a king who could rule
over them; a king so they would be like all the surrounding nations around
them. Although it sounds a little childish, this is the way it probably sounded
to Samuel “come on Samuel, every body’s doing it?” Of course, this displeased
Samuel, but nevertheless he took the request to God. God appeases them but
wants Samuel to warn them of all of the problems that go along with having a
king (these warnings are found in 1 Samuel 8. 10-22). Of course God was right
and the people had the very problems He warned them about. Why couldn’t the
children of Israel see that? We always want what others have; we just don’t
want to see their problems. Nevertheless, we want the bigger cars and the
bigger houses, but we can see the strain it puts on our finances. We want the
younger more attractive mate, but the upkeep on keeping them looking so
attractive is killing you. We may have wanted the deserved promotion, but the
pressures and the stress may send you to an early grave. Sometimes when we go
for what is on the other side, we forget just how great things were before.
Focus on where you are, not where you’re not! Focus on what you have and not
what you don’t! As the old saying goes, “new toys, new problems.”
PRAYER
REQUESTS____________________________________________________