Will You Be Like David?

1 Chronicles 22:6-10 Then David sent for his son Solomon and instructed him to build a Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel. “My son, I wanted to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord my God,” David told him. “But the Lord said to me, ‘You have killed many men in the battles you have fought. And since you have shed so much blood in my sight, you will not be the one to build a Temple to honor my name. But you will have a son who will be a man of peace. I will give him peace with his enemies in all the surrounding lands. His name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel during his reign. He is the one who will build a Temple to honor my name. He will be my son and I will be his father. And I will secure the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’”

Do you not see? I do not always allow my children to do what they want to do – even for Me. David wanted to build My Temple. Yet, I chose his son Solomon to be the one for that task. Does that mean I loved Solomon more than I loved David? Of course not, Child. It means that David was not chosen to do that one task. It means that Solomon was the better choice to do that one task. Was David disappointed that he was not chosen to build the Temple? Probably. But note his reaction. He immediately moved forward gathering the materials for the day when his son Solomon would build. When his son Solomon would be overseeing the creation of the first Temple. David immediately accepted my decision and began to implement my plans. He found a way to be helpful in the task assigned to Solomon. He found a way to quietly serve his son. He worked humbly toward the day when his son would gain the recognition of having built the magnificent Temple. And he found contentment in that service. Will you be like David? When I do not give you assignments that you wish to have, when you are not recognized and placed in positions you want, will you quietly accept my decision and then come behind and help those I have chosen? Can you humble yourself and be a background worker? Can you put your pride and hurt away and know that, if I have chosen another, it does not mean I love that person more than I love you? Can you trust that when I choose, it is the best choice?