Dear Christian friends:

One day a newspaper reporter asked Billy Graham how he explained his great success as a minister. Dr. Graham answered, "God!" Then the reporter asked him, "But why did God choose you? Billy Graham answered, "When I get to heaven thats the first question I am going to ask Him."

Billy Graham humbly confesses that through God's kindness and blessing he is a great and successful minister. But God also kindly rules and leads you in your life also.

Often we forget this and worry and become upset or bitter and angry when times are bad and troubles multiply. Or when times are good and pleasant then we are tempted to be proud and pat ourselves on the back. If we will remember that God leads us through this world we will accept the good and the bad alike, with quiet peace and joy and hope in God.

Our text today reminds us that:


Nothing happens to us without His will. Our text tells us about one event in King David's life. It is true that God leads us in our life. He loves us and has forgiven all our sins through His Son Jesus Christ. He loves us much more than our mother and father love us.

He says He is our heavenly Father and that we are His children. His Son, our Savior Jesus, even teaches us to pray: "Our Father who art in Heaven." So what happens to us happens with His knowledge and permission and it happens for our good. Yes, even deafness happens for your good.

Paul says, "We know that all things happen for good to those who love God." (Romans 8:28) This was true of King David. David had become proud and forgot this. He himself decided that he wanted to build a beautiful temple in Jerusalem. Since the time of Moses for five-hundred years the golden ark with the Ten Commandments and other holy things was housed in a tent, called the Tabernacle.

Now God had given David victory over many of his enemies and Israel was strong and permanent. So David wanted to build a house of cedars and gold, a permanent house for God. But he did not ask God if He wanted that. He Himself decided.

So God told Nathan, the prophet to tell David, "You shall not build me a house to live in. Did I ask you or anyone before you to build me a house? Remember, you were a shepherd boy and I took you and made you king and gave you victory in war over all your enemies. I have made your name great like great men on earth. But don't think you are God." (1 Chronicles 28:1-7)

When David heard God's Word from Nathan he was sorry and humbly confessed that God was great and he was not worthy to be king, "O Lord, God," "he prayed what is mine house, that thou has brought me hitherto?" (verse 16)

Often we are like David and become proud and forget to pray and seek God's will for our life. And we forget to give thanks and praise to God. We decide to do something and not study God's Word to see if that agrees with His wish. Or we do not pray for Him to lead us and show us His will.

Changing jobs or moving, do we ask God if that's all right? Before we vote and decide church business do we study to see if that is God's will? Before we make our pledge on loyalty Sunday do we study God's Word and seek His will about how much we should pledge? Do we pray and ask Him to guide us in making a good decision?

I think sometimes in our life we are proud, like David and decide things and do things that God doesn't want us to do. Then he does not bless us and prosper our work.

We too, like David should look back on our life and see where our decisions have not pleased God. Let us be sorry and make ourselves humble before Him. Let us read and study His Word more carefully to know His will. Let us pray for courage and love to do His will.

Now we plan to build the new building; does God want us to build that new building? Have you asked Him in prayer about that? Have you stopped to think why you want the new building? Do you want it to show off to your friends and brag? Does God want us to have the new building for that? Or for what?

It appears that God wants us to go ahead and build. Last Tuesday the Board voted the loan. Now, if that is true that God wants us to build and continue with Sunday School and Youth work then everyone of our members ought to agree and gladly give and do to see that it is finished and supported.

God has shown to us His will during the past five years. He has blessed our fund raising for the Synod and District Boards. Let us not fail to agree now with God's will.

David, said to God, "I am your servant. I will obey you and respect Your will. I will not build the House. Then he worshipped God and praised Him and said, "O Lord there is no God like You! You are the only true God and do great and wonderful things." (verse 20) And also David thanked God for the promised Savior Jesus, his Son that His rule would be forever here on earth and then in heaven.

After that David worked hard and gathered wood, and much brass and gold for God's House. He got it prepared for his Son, Solomon, who would build the house after he died and went to heaven.

So let us think of ourselves, also, as servants of God. We are not God. We are not owners and bosses. We are not free to do as we please with our time, talent and money. We are God's servants, like David. Another word is steward.

So when we study God's Word about stewardship, lets not get angry. Let us be humble like David. He was a great King, but He was humble and a good steward of God.

Ray Schweigert, rich man but a humble servant of God. Fran Tarkenton, Al Worthington, Jim Kaat, Earl Battey, Christian Athletes. You say, "They are rich they can do it. I am poor and deaf. I can't. Maybe you can't do as much as but you can do your share. Let God rule and lead you in your life.

Amen.