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Put as simply as us sheep need to hear it - God’s way is the only way. Any time we alter the approach and guidelines He gives us, it goes badly. Even in what we might incorrectly determine to be the “little things.” God is a good God. He is a good Father. He is a Righteous Ruler. He is the King of Kings. Our ideas of what might help improve or evolve His precepts and laws are laughably considered when we truly think about it. Who are we, after all, to suggest that God is old fashioned, that He does not really understand our current condition or that His expectations were only for a people of a certain era or time, not relevant to our current reality?

As we look into the story of David’s life in chapters 19-20 we see that a time of tumult and uncertainty begin for the giant slayer. He seems to have been exactly where he should have been. Anointed by God as the future king. Powerful warrior. Loved by the people he would lead. Faithful to follow God’s direction. Full of bravery and strength. This should have made him incredibly important to Saul. Instead, it made him hated by him.

Have you ever felt the irony of believing you are in the middle of God’s will, but were facing more opposition than ever before? How do we know when something is man’s idea versus God’s idea? So many things come to mind as I read and study the unfolding story of David in I Samuel 18.

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As a reminder, at the end of Saul’s reign, the prophet Samuel had identified, because of God’s selection, the next king of Israel. David, a son of Jesse and a shepherd, was anointed as the future king, but not placed on the throne. In fact, he went back to tending sheep until an opportune time when he was brought, literally, into the palace to serve Saul. Here he served as court musician. He was well-spoken, talented and a warrior. God used David’s gifts to position him exactly where he needed him to be.

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Many of us fail to consider our final days, however. How is it that we believe we will finish this race? How will we end this physical life and move into our eternal life? What will our final seconds be like as we near our last breath? What would we say and do if we knew our final moments were upon us? David knew and he took the opportunity to convey messages to those around him that were telling about how his life had played out.

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If we were entrusted with an artifact or item of great worth, we would feel, quite literally, its value. We could know its potential cost, its power or its meaning. If the person who owned it, gave it to us and fully trusted us for its keeping, investment or use, it would mean that we have been considered worthy of such trust.

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As we move along the paths of our own lives, we encounter countless opportunities to move in a particular direction, almost always at the cost of another. Some are excited when these opportunities arise. Some are terrified. Nonetheless, living life is often made up of both seemingly insignificant choices and those that when taken clearly lead to a place of no return.

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James has an unmistakable emphasis on vital Christianity. He is clearly a practitioner of his faith. He speaks in specifics as to how the Christian life is to be lived. He does not press deeply into theoretical or difficult doctrinal issues. He is clearly instructing the early Church in how those who follow Christ are to live out their lives.

Sometimes, it seems like it takes a lot to sort through what the Word is saying to us. It may seem dense, complex or that it takes a lot of overall knowledge to be able to rightly divide its message. Most of the time, however, it does not. It is straightforward and not only accessible, but outright blatant in what it is saying to us.

I have found that material that is dense and difficult to understand contains the most footnotes or annotations. James does not have much by way of extra explanation. It is straightforward and it makes good sense. It is refreshingly direct and not complicated. It is important, however, to continue to state what otherwise seems should be obvious.