Importance

 DEVOTION

1^ST KINGS

IMPORTANCE

1 Kings 22:9-18

9 So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, "Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once." 10 Dressed in their royal robes, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them. 11 Now Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made iron horns and he declared, "This is what the LORD says: 'With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.'" 2 All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. "Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious," they said, "for the LORD will give it into the king's hand." 3 The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, "Look, as one man the other prophets are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably." 14 But Micaiah said, "As surely as the LORD lives, I can tell him only what the LORD tells me." 15 When he arrived, the king asked him, "Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?" "Attack and be victorious," he answered, "for the LORD will give it into the king's hand." 6 The king said to him, "How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?" 17 Then Micaiah answered, "I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said, 'These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.'" 18 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Didn't I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?"

NIV

From four hundred so-called prophets to one man who is the prophet of the LORD may be our story here. However, there are two other stories we should focus on. One of these truths is the two kings sitting on their thrones dressed in their royal robes. Isn’t that just what kings are supposed to do? Although we have not come to the truthful prophecy of Micaiah, which includes seeing the LORD sitting on His throne, men make their own thrones, setting themselves high to be lifted up by other men and to be important. Do we think too much of ourselves than we should? Do we think we are important? There are so many ways in this world to make ourselves important. We cannot imagine enough wealth to wear clothes and jewelry that cost as much as our home, but some people do, looking so important. Others may feel that their degrees make them important. The position in life may also make someone feel important. However, Jesus, being God, or the Son of God, Son of man, the Messiah, our  Lord and Savior, did not come to sit upon a throne in His royal robes, to be served, but He came to serve. Again, learning from Him, we are to be gentle and humble of heart. The second truth to consider is what Micaiah told the messenger that he could only speak what the LORD told him. We might think that could only apply to those who have been called to preach the word of God, but that would be wrong thinking. The Spirit gives His gifts to whoever He chooses and when He chooses to manifest them. Those gifts that would be considered speaking only what the Lord tells us are the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, and the gift of prophecy. We may also be prompted to use the gift of healing or do miracles. The point is that we should not even attempt to wield the power of man, or the importance of man is from the mind of man, but rather, as we humble ourselves before the Lord, lifting Him up, exalting His name, He will lift us up. He is the one who needs to break us, mold us, fill us, and use us for His divine purpose. If He wants to lift us up, that is up to Him. Of course, we want to do good things for our Lord, but even that is one of the Spirit's gifts, called the gift of helps. It should never be about what we think makes us important, even to the kingdom of God. It is about serving His divine purpose for our lives, doing what He says we should do. Our lives should always be about seeking the counsel of the Lord and speaking only what He speaks to us, and never thinking we are so important or a person of importance.