Is There Not a Cause?

Have you ever read the story of David and Goliath? If not- you should. First Samuel Chapter 17 tells the story most of us have heard at one point or another in our lives.

Recently my husband Danny brought a scripture to my attention in this story that I have never noticed before.

David was sent by his father, Jesse to check on his brothers who were encamped in the Valley of Elah, against the Philistines. Once David arrived, he was able to witness what had been going on, first hand. Goliath came out, and taunted the Israelites. No one dared face the giant, who had also insulted the name of God, and the people of Israel, his followers.

As David began to inquire about why no one had attempted to defeat Goliath- his oldest brother became angry and insisted that David had only come down to watch the battle, because of his pride. (Perhaps to pick fun at how cowardly the Israelites were acting...)
David's response?
I Samel 17:29
And David said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?"

David saw a man- and an army who had mocked and defied his God. There was cause enough for him- being a young man, the most unlikely candidate to defeat a giant and inspire an entire army on to victory, to rise up to action!

When I pause to look back over history, it is clear that throughout time, mankind, being plagued by greed, lust, jealousy, and fear, has gone to the utmost evil to try to quench the unquenchable abyss of longing in the dead, human flesh. It hurts me to read of entire civilizations being destroyed because a king thought he needed more gold. The list goes on and on.

We live in a similar culture still, yet our greeds, lusts and envies are shrouded by cloaks of fashion, popularity and "beauty". If we knew something we were supporting was causing young children to be kidnapped from their parents and sold into slavery- would we be willing to stop? Or would we turn a blind eye and make the oh-so-common comments we've all heard?  "There is something bad behind everything; I have to eat."

In our laziness to look deeper, and our comforts- we seal the fate of others, just like so many kingdoms who destroyed hundreds of thousands of people, in the name of "God". God didn't give a pig's behind about Spain having more gold- just as He probably finds it amazing that we as believers support whatever we feel like because we are too lazy to step outside of our comfortable world.

I wonder inside if we're any different. There is no shortage of pain and grief. Our American eyes see some- but a quick browse of world news (which will give only a small glimpse) will show us that all of the world isn't living in a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house, enjoying 4 closets of clothing, and drinking Coca Cola every day, while claiming themselves in financial crisis.

What about the millions of babies being aborted every year? What about the children being sold as sex slaves, and those being kidnapped all over the world for this reason? What about the 150+ million orphans in the world without a home? What about the people who have not heard of the love of Jesus?

Is there not a cause?

When we are impacted by the love of the Savior, our lives go beyond excuses- and we find a cause. A believer without a cause should be fearful for the state of their heart. I know that's blunt- but it's the Word of God. Faith without works is no faith at all. (James 2:17) The world is tired of seeing a church whose voices proclaim a great faith, but their greatest cause is what brand of jeans to buy. It is a contradiction in terms for a Christian to have no concern for the lost, hurting, and broken of the world.

What cause has God set your heart ablaze for? The enemy would have every believer to continue to see our society through rose colored glasses, and any occasional issue as "someone else's problem". Mercy and compassion are the banners that the children of God should wear. 

God- may the church be burdened with the injustices in our culture, and rise to the occasion...
Show us how to be Your hands and feet!