Verse of the day: Exodus
3:1 Now Moses was tending the
flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock
to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
In
the first forty years of his life, Moses was brought up in luxury, power, and
earthly wealth. By his own choice, he decided that he would not live life as an
Egyptian; instead choosing to live amongst his people. Having fled Egypt
because of the murder he committed in defending a Hebrew brother, he spent the
next forty years employed as a shepherd for his father-in-law. This is quite a
difference from living a life of luxury, and inheriting a position of power as
Pharaoh’s adopted grandson. Yet, Moses was truly wealthy because he possessed
something that was far more valuable than all the earthly riches of Egypt.
Moses, over his forty year in Midian learned humility and contentment. We do
not read in Exodus that Moses complained about being a shepherd, or the fact
that he was living a humble life serving his father-in-law. One of the greatest
gains we can acquire as born again believers is contentment with godliness. The
Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:6-11, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For
we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing
out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But
those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts
which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a
root of all kinds of evil, for
which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced
themselves through with many sorrows.” All the while that Moses is
living out his life in Midian, not once has he been told that God was preparing
him for something that was supernaturally bigger than anything Moses would ever
be tasked with. So often, we, who are serving the Lord, or seeking to serve the
Lord, do not realize how our everyday life, such as going to work (maybe at a
job that is less than impressive in the eyes of the world), our relationship(s)
at home, and how we interact socially with others, plays a part in what God is
doing in our lives to prepare us for His service. When we read the Scriptures
we see that God uses people from all walks of life, and all ages; the reason
being that whatever God calls us to will be accomplished by God working in us,
and through us. It is not about us! Moses did not see being a shepherd as
something that was beneath him. We too, whether working in the secular world,
or serving in the church, should never think so highly of ourselves that we
would not take on a certain type of employment, or a certain ministry, if that
is where God is calling us to be. I have met many men who desired to be in the
limelight in their service to God, but were not willing to do the things that
were less visible, like mopping up a bathroom floor when the toilet overflowed.
If we are not willing to unplug a toilet in the church building, when we are
the one that comes upon it, then we have no business preaching or teaching God’s
Word. If we are not willing to be in a place of service where we are actually
serving others, then we have no business being in a place of leadership. Moses
had to be humble and submit under the hand of God before God would lift him up
in a position to lead His people out of Egypt. The Apostle Peter wrote in 1
Peter 5:5-6 “Likewise
you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes,
all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with
humility, for God resists the proud, but
gives grace to the humble. 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the
mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time”. In submitting
ourselves, and our lives, to God, we must learn contentment with whatever God
chooses for us in life and service. The Apostle Paul put it this way in
Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I
have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased,
and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to
be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all
things through Christ who strengthens me.” Whatever length of time it
takes, God will do what He needs to do, and allow us to be wherever He chooses
for us, in order to teach us humility and contentment, so that we will be prepared
to serve Him in whatever manner He calls us to serve Him.
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