Christ’s Ambassador

Saul, son of Kish was instructed to go on a business trip accompanied by a servant. Some donkeys were missing and that was going to be a great loss to the family business if they were not found. Saul’s mission was to find these beasts of burden and return them to the stable. Read 1 Sam 9:1-27  Out of the many servants on the family payroll, Saul picked a particular one. Why did he make that choice?

One could readily say that the one who got selected by Saul was available. Overtime, he must have proved himself capable and thorough. Saul had to like him anyway for who would want to embark on such a journey that might take several days in the company of a bore? So he must have been good also. By hindsight I can also say that the servant was goal oriented and persevering. He was untiring even though he had no stake in the family business. When Saul suggested they called the search off the man was ready to go the extra mile. He had faith in God’s intervention and his faith influenced Saul. He demonstrated this faith not only in suggesting consultation with Samuel the seer, but he was also ready to bear the cost – and that was all he had left in his pocket. That was sacrifice. He showed love to his employer by putting in more than he could ever be paid for. The servant must have cultivated an attitude of gratitude for being employed by the family of Kish. He was grateful to God for the privilege to work. This is the punch line in Jesus parable of the vineyard – the privilege to work in the vineyard of God and not the salary.(Mathew 20:1-15)

What did this servant get for all his qualities? The Bible did not tell us more about him but we know that “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them”. (Heb 6:10 (NIV)) I would expect that as Saul was promoted by God from “a common man from the least family in the tribe of Benjamin” to the King of Israel to whom “no one equals”, the servant was automatically promoted from being a servant of just a rich man to the servant of a King. More than that, he was God’s instrument to steer Saul to where he was anointed as King. And this was a reward in itself for that time, and then very soon, he would be welcome to the eternal home of peace with “Well done, my good servant! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ……” (Luke 19:17 NIV)

In a related story, another employee, a young Hebrew girl captured by the Arameans, witnessed that God is a healer and Naaman, the war General of the Arameans got healed. More, Naaman confessed that “there is no God in the entire world except in Israel” (2Kgs 5:15 NLT) If this servant girl was not beyond reproach in her conduct, no one would have taken her words with a pinch of salt.

We do well to emulate these employees in the highcalling of our daily work. The vineyard of God is not restricted to Church or crusade grounds. It covers the places where we earn our daily living, where we recreate, the home, hospital, school, meeting hall and market place. Wherever you may be at any time is God’s vineyard. The total being of a believer should bring glory to God.