We are in the heat of Olympic fervor. The final days of Gold Medal moments are a upon us. Fans aren’t holding back who back they favor—their countries’ team, and rightfully so. Every man, woman, kingdom, and kind—even those of the animal kind seeks favor. I have one hummingbird feeder with five feeding ports. I have four hummingbirds hungry for favor. Now if my math is correct, there is one more feeding opportunity than competition, yet they fight as if there is a shortage of favor, as if there is no tomorrow, and no God of today and tomorrow. But the God of Matthew 5:26 has an abundance of favor. Just look at His view of birds:
26 Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not ye of much more value than they? Mat. 5:26
You are more valued—favored by God. You don’t have to fight for His favor. The qualification for God’s favor is faithfulness according to 1 Samuel 2:35:
35But I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and in My soul; and I will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed always.
God favors the faithful—His priests (and we are all his priests according to 1 Peter 2:5)—who favors Him, who wants what God wants, who wants His heart. Little Samuel did since his miraculous birth. Here is the backstory: Hannah was barren. She vowed to God that if God gave her a son, she’d give him back to Him as a priest. God remembered Hannah’s vow and gave her Samuel. And she made good her promise. She gave him back to God once he was weened. She brought him to the priest Eli to mentor. The problem was Eli had two servant-sons—Hophni and Phinehas—whom he did not mentor well. They were not raised to be faithful. They did not favor what was in God’s heart. Look at their unfaithfulness:
Greed is unfaithfulness to God. These two priestly servant-sons took the meat offerings dedicated to God and kept it for themselves. Selfishness does not represent what’s in God’s heart. (1Sam. 2:14)
Violence is unfaithfulness to God. These two priestly servant-sons threatened worshippers who did not give the best cut of the offerings —the fat—to them first. (1Sam. 2:16). Abuse does not represent what’s in God’s heart.
Sexual promiscuity is unfaithfulness to God. These priestly sons had sex with prostitutes in front of the tent of meeting, defiling the house of God (1Sam. 2:22). Uncleanness doesn’t represent what is in God’s heart.
All the while, little Samuel was growing in stature and favor with God (v.26). He was more faithful than Eli’s pitiful sons. So, God meted out judgment on negligent Eli and his household of priests. None of Eli’s boys will sit as servants in the tent of meetings. They will both die on the same day (v. 33,34).
Samuel will be promoted and ordained as God’s priest (1Sam. 3:19,20). Everybody would know that Samuel hears God and was called to be the Lord’s faithful servant. He didn’t have to fight for God’s favor. His faithfulness was enough.
Hummingbirds may fight when they don’t have to, to experience the grace of God’s provision. You don’t have to fight for his favor. Just be faithful. Want what’s in God’s heart: selflessness, peace and fidelity. You will find favor.
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be
Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see , All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love
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