Your Servant Is Listening

Our reading is from I Samuel 3:1-10. The people of Israel have settled back into a lax lifestyle. Their attitude toward God and His vision for them as a nation had become indifferent. Their leader, the high priest, Eli, was old. Unless something happened the reigns of leadership will be passed to his two wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas. The only bright spot in the whole story is a boy named Samuel. His name means “asked of God.” He had been entrusted to Eli a decade earlier by his mother, Hannah. In time the tables turned, it is Samuel who now cares for the old man’s needs. Surprisingly, God speaks to Samuel and breaks the silence. Here is an interesting question.

Why did God speak to Samuel? Why didn’t God speak to the old priest, Eli? Why didn’t God speak to Eli’s sons who were in the prime of their lives? Perhaps a better question is, why doesn’t God speak to us? For years, I would utter the same prayer before I would preach. “Dear Father, we have grown weary of human voices and human opinions. Father, what we really want is a word from you.” Why is a word from the Lord so rare? In this blog, I want to look at three qualities Samuel had in his life that made him attractive to God. They take the form of three words. Perhaps God isn’t speaking to our society because we lack these qualities.

The first word is the word others. God speaks to those people who are concerned about other people. God is frustrated with people who live for themselves. It is hard to see God when your eyes are fixed on yourself. Samuel illustrates that fact for us. Why did Samuel assume the voice of God he heard was Eli? There are two reasons. First, this was the first time God had spoken to him and he did not know God’s voice. Second, a large part of Samuel’s life was caring for the aging Eli. He didn’t just live for himself, he lived for someone else, Eli, and he heard a word from the Lord.

I am proud of many things I did in the ministry. One of those things is sending youth on an annual mission trip. The camps were sponsored by a youth organization called Group. The goal was to help people in need and to help young people experience Jesus. We did it for over twenty years at Western Reserve. Twice we co-hosted a camp within a few miles from our church building in Youngstown, Ohio. Those trips were life-changing for everyone involved.

Every year I would be at the church when the youth returned from a trip. The scene was always the same. They would get out of the vans and act like they were returning from war – they were limping and tired. However, something special always happened, they would tell me about the week. They told me about the funny things that happened. They would tell me how hard they worked. They would tell me about the people they met in their small work group from around the country. They would tell me about the people they helped – the poor widow, the young mother with cancer, the crippled veteran. All the residences they worked on were considered substandard housing. They would tell those stories with a smile, and end by saying, “you should have been there!” Those stories were not unique to just the youth, it is true of everyone who gets involved in missions. It is the same for all the mission trips – local, regional, national and international. There is something about walking in some else’s shoes that changes you. When you get your ears off the details of your life, it changes you. How much time do you spend worrying about yourself and your loved ones? How much time do you spend worrying about a stranger? Maybe that is why a word from the Lord is so rare? God speaks to us when we are concerned with someone else’s needs. Samuel was concerned about Eli. The first word is others.

The second word is the word opportunity. God speaks to people who put themselves in position to hear Him. Samuel positioned himself to hear God. Do you remember the story? God spoke to Samuel three times before Eli discerned God’s voice. The old priest instructed the boy to go back to bed and wait on the Lord. If the Lord speaks again then say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” In other words, Samuel positioned himself to receive God’s word. When was the last time you positioned yourself for a word from the Lord?

We live busy, fast-paced lives. According to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spends 9.8 hours a day sleeping, 5.15 hours a day in leisure, 3.56 hours a day working, and 1.92 hours a day on household activities. That comes to a total of 20.43 hours each day. What are you going to do with the rest of your day? How many of the remaining 3.57 hours each day are you planning on spending with God? It is not an easy question to answer. I am convinced we make time for the things that are important to us. How important is God to you? How much time are you planning on spending with God? Samuel positioned himself to listen to God. Are you positioning yourself to hear God? Are you giving God an opportunity to speak to you? The second word is opportunity.

The third word is the word obedient. Maybe the word should be disobedient? Let me say this clearly – God does speak to us! One of the ways is through the Bible. That is why the Bible is so wonderful. The Bible is filled with God’s word and contains wonderful models for holy living. The problem is the way we view the Bible. Most people read the Bible like they are at a garage sale. They select only the parts that are pleasing to them and reject the rest. Samuel said in verse ten, “Speak your servant is listening.” In other words, Samuel was open to God’s word and God’s leading. God’s vision for him became a priority in his life. Can the same thing be said about you?

There is an old preaching story about a church that received a pastor. On his first Sunday, the congregation gathered excitedly and expectantly. Everyone was suitably impressed afterward. “My, how well he spoke” remarked one. “A superb sermon to be sure. If he keeps this up, we’re in for a treat” remarked another. Keep it up the new pastor did. For the following week he preached the same sermon. The people were puzzled, but generously surmised that it had probably been too busy a week to prepare a new sermon, with moving into a new house and meeting all the people. Yet he preached the original sermon the following week as well, and the week after that. The people were very concerned, and the church leadership decided it was time to confront their new pastor. They met him after the service and asked whether he had any other sermons or whether he planned to preach the same one for his entire ministry.” I certainly hope not,” said the pastor. “I plan on preaching a new sermon, once you put the first one into practice.”

All the spiritual disciplines mean nothing if we are not open to God’s word for us. Preaching and Bible study mean nothing as long as our opinions are more important than God’s word. Preaching and Bible study are not entertainment, they are God’s word to you. Do you really care what God has to say to you? Scottish theologian and preacher Peter T. Forsythe (1848-1921) was right when he said, “The first duty of every soul is to find not its freedom but its Master”. Why is a word from the Lord so rare? Perhaps, one of the reasons is we really don’t care what God has to say? The first word was others. The second word is opportunity. The third world is obedience. I end with this story.

Our 32^nd President, Franklin Roosevelt (1882-1945), often endured long receiving lines at the White House. He complained that no one really paid any attention to what was said. One day, during a reception, he decided to try an experiment. To each person who passed down the line and shook his hand, he murmured, “I murdered my grandmother this morning.” The guests responded with phrases like, “Marvelous! Keep up the good work! We are proud of you! God bless you, sir!” It was not until the end of the line, while greeting the ambassador from Bolivia, that his words were truly heard. Nonplussed, the ambassador leaned over and whispered, “I’m sure she had it coming.” 30^th President Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) once said, “No man ever listened himself out of a job.”

Listening to other people is a complex topic. Sometimes we don’t listen because we don’t hear. The Food and Drug Agency, tells us approximately 28.8 million Americans would benefit from wearing hearing aids. Sometimes we don’t hear what is being said because we are preoccupied. I am in this category. You can talk to me, and I don’t hear a word, because I am thinking about something else. Sometimes we don’t hear because we are guilty of selective hearing. That is when we hear what is being said, but we refuse to accept it. Like when your doctor tells you at your annual physical to diet and exercise. You hear the words but dismiss them. Listening to other people is a complex topic.

Listening to God is even more complex. Samuel knew how to listen. He heard God because, he was more concerned with others than himself. He heard God because he gave God an opportunity to speak to him. He heard God and was open to God’s leading. God is speaking to you. Are you listening?

Your Servant Is Listening

I love this story. Franklin Roosevelt (1882-1945) served as President of the United States from 1933 until 1945. He was our 32^nd President. As President he was often forced to endure long receiving lines at the White House. He complained that no one really paid any attention to what was said. One day, during a reception, he decided to try an experiment. To each person who passed down the line and shook his hand, he murmured, “I murdered my grandmother this morning.” The guests responded with phrases like, “Marvelous! Keep up the good work. We are proud of you. God bless you, sir.” It was not till the end of the line, while greeting the ambassador from Bolivia, that his words were heard. Nonplussed, the ambassador leaned over and whispered, “I’m sure she had it coming.” I tell you that story for one reason. The simple act of listening can be a complex topic. That takes us to today’s scripture lesson.

We find ourselves in the third chapter of First Samuel, the first ten verses. According to the Greek historian Josephus, Samuel was 12 years old when God started speaking to him. That was unique because their time was like our time, the word of the Lord was rare. In the darkness of that night God called Samuel. The boy assumes the one calling him is the nearly blind Eli. He ran to Eli and discovered the truth. The priest had not called him. The scene plays out two more times. It is on the third time Eli begins to understand. He instructs the boy to go back to bed and tells him to listen for the voice. If the voice comes then respond, “Your servant is listening.” That is exactly what happened, and his life would never be the same again. Have you ever wished God would speak to you? Do not answer that question too quickly. That story is not isolated. Throughout the pages of the Bible God is communicating with people. However, it is not just true of Biblical times. It is still true today. God communicates with us in various ways.

Ben Springs is a pastor of the Good Springs Full Gospel Church in Parrish, Alabama. He says there are ten ways God speaks to us today. Maybe you have experienced one. Audible Voice – That is what happened to Samuel. Has God every spoken to you in an audible voice? Angelic Visitation – That is Mary’s story. The angel told her she would conceive a baby boy. She was to name him Jesus. People have told me they have seen, only to them, angels in this church’s sanctuary. Visions and Dreams – Joseph had a dream, and in the end saved God’s chosen people. Maybe we should start writing down our dreams and start taking them seriously? Signs – There is nothing wrong with asking God for a sign to determine his will. Weekly, I will see something, a sign, that confirms I am preaching on something that God wants you to hear. Coincidences – This is no such thing as a coincidence. They are little miracles where God wants to remain unknown. The Written Word – The Bible is the general word of God for the masses. It covers many issues that are facing our world today. God cannot speak to you through the Bible if you are not reading the Bible. The Living Word – The living word is Jesus.The Holy Spirit speaks to us personally. Remember, we believe in a triune God. Through Relationships – Eli helped Samuel recognize God’s voice. God can speak through teachers and preachers, but God can also speak through other believers, such as your spouse and friends. Each one of us needs wise counsel. Through Creation and Nature – Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork.” How many times have you been moved by the beauty of nature? Through Our Conscious – God hand-wired us with an internal awareness of what is right and what is wrong.

That is quite a list. If you look at that the whole list, then you must admit God is constantly trying to communicate with us. We are more like Samuel than we care to admit. God is speaking to us, but we fail to recognize his voice. The question is not, why doesn’t God speak to us? The question is, are we listening? Here is a question you must answer.

Why aren’t we listening? Many have written on the topic. One is a man by the name of C. Kevin Thompson. He is an author and a member of the Christian Authors Network. He says there are five reasons we do not hear God. This is his list. I believe they have some merit.

The issue is fear. This concept involves active listening. We want God to show us what he has done, not tell us what to do. It is a not always laziness. Much of the time it is fear. Our insecurities limit our behavior. We are afraid God will push us out of our comfort zone.

The issue is patience. We are not patient people. That is why we have drive-thru at fast food restaurants. Fast was not fast enough. We value speed, so we expect an answer from God immediately. However, God cares far more about having a relationship with us than us getting a single decision correct.

It is the issue of identity. We are concerned with what God wants us to do; God is far more concerned with us understanding who He is. This influences His communication. While He might tell us what to do, He far more often is telling us who He is. When we understand the Who, the What takes care of itself.

It is the issue of selfishness. God loves us, but we are not at the center of His world. We like to think we are. Because of our unending focus on ourselves, we can easily miss God’s communication when He fails to talk about our favorite topic–us. We need to focus more on God and less on ourselves.

The issue is sensationalism. I do not deny that God can speak to us through our circumstances, I just know we can never be certain if it is Him. The only certain communication we have from God is in His Word. Everything else must be seen with some skepticism. God’s Word is clearly meant for us. Everything else is questionable. It is not exciting, but you need to read the Bible!

God is speaking! The problem is we are not listening.

It must have been a week ago this past Wednesday. I was in a good mood. Kathryn’s surgery was over, and I had spoken to the doctor. Everything was going to be fine. Kathryn was fast asleep in the Intensive Care Unit, so I decided to drive to my brother-in-law’s, where I was going to spend the night. I took the long way to Bedford and drove through Garfield Heights. I have fond memories of my five years in that community. They were good to me and my family. I was in the north end of town when my cell phone rang. I did not recognize the number. I thought it was a sales call, but it was the business office of the Cleveland Clinic. The young man on the other end of the line introduced himself and asked if I would mind answering a few questions. I turned into a plaza, so I could give him my complete attention. The questions had simple answers, address, birthday, and place of employment. I told him she was retired, but she served a small membership congregation in Lowellville. He asked if I carried the hospitalization, then I told him where I work. Then, he said something that surprised me. He said, he considered going into the United Methodist ministry. I asked him why he did not. He said, he was considering the ministry to make other people happy. I said, if you are called to go into the ministry, then you will never be happy doing anything else. If you are not called to go into the ministry and go into it, you will be miserable. I know that is true because that is my story.

Looking back on my career, I can easily say God called me into the ministry from the very beginning. The problem is I did not hear God calling me from the very beginning. When I got out of college, I was afraid to pursue the ministry. I did not for two reasons. Both seemed logical. First, I was terrified of public speaking. Second, people who loved me passionately told me I was not intellectual enough. I feared they were right. For three years, I did secular work. I worked in a bank and found a sales position. Neither one satisfied me. I enrolled into seminary because I knew there had to be more. Can I be honest with you? I think it worked out. I have never really worked in the ministry. Everything came to me naturally. I discovered being social was not a detriment, but it was a bonus. No one cares about Biblical Greek. However, I do get a reaction from people when I proclaim, I own the world’s best dog. (Everyone should feel like they own the world’s best dog!) In time, public speaking did not become a problem, but it has become my addiction. In May, I was be sixty-four years old. I only have one regret about the ministry. I wish, I would have not lost those three years. This is the point. God was calling me the whole time, but I was not listening. This is the question you must answer.

Are you listening? That is an important question because God is speaking. Samuel served God daily in the temple, but he failed to understand God’s communication. Could that be your story? My prayer for you today is simple. I pray you eliminate all those things that are making your deaf to God’s communication. Eliminate the fear, the impatience, and selfishness. I hope you identify God correctly because He wants to have a long-term relationship with you! It has been said, “God remains silent until we are ready to listen.”