This servant helped Saul reach his destiny!

(By Alisha Jose)

One day Saul’s father Kish happens to lose his donkeys. He then tells Saul to take one of his servants and go and search for them. So Saul and the servant leave home and go far and wide to search for the donkeys, yet they could not find them anywhere. Finally, Saul says to his servant “Come, let’s go back, or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us.” (1 Samuel 9:5)

The servant’s persistence

The servant could have gone back with Saul and carried on with his household work. In any case he would not lose his wage whether or not the donkeys were found and he could just go on about his life. But this servant took his responsibility seriously, and genuinely carried his master’s burdens. He says to Saul, Look, in this town there is a man of God; he is highly respected, and everything he says comes true. Let’s go there now. Perhaps he will tell us what way to take” (1 Samuel 9:6)  

Leading towards a divine encounter

As we read in the Scripture earlier, the servant does not give up but he encourages his master to meet the man of God. He himself believed in the prophet of God because he makes a remark about him, “everything he says comes true”. And it is this divine encounter that changes Saul’s destiny forever. 

The cost to serve

Saul was hesitant to go because he did not have anything to offer to the man of God. “If we go, what can we give the man? The food in our sacks is gone. We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have? (1 Samuel 9:7). 

But here the servant steps in and offers to give his own silver coin. Wow! Not only was this servant loyal and committed, but he was also willing to pay a sacrificial price to help his master. 

The servant’s right timing

Meanwhile, before Saul could meet prophet Samuel, God had already spoken to Samuel to anoint him as king over Israel, and Samuel also gives Saul the good news that his lost donkeys are found! 

It’s amazing how God used this unnamed servant to bring Saul into his destiny. 

The servant sent off

They have dinner together and the next day Samuel says to Saul, “Tell your servant to go on ahead of us. You stay with me for a bit. I have a word of God to give you.” (1 Samuel 9:27).

The servant was sent off and his duty was over. He never got appreciated, nor is there a mention of him getting rewarded for his loyalty by Saul when he becomes king.

But the servant teaches us a valuable lesson here – This is how we must serve God by leading people to their God destinies, without expecting praise or recognition from man, knowing that our praise comes from God. For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. (Hebrews 6:10)

Life Application

1. One of the biggest joys you can have is leading people into their God destinies.

2. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for God and not man.

3. Love praise from God more than from men.